Jameis Winston was just an afterthought earlier this month when the Cleveland Browns had a full complement of quarterbacks.
But Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury changed the dynamic, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s finger injury in the same Oct. 20 game completely opened the door for the 30-year-old Winston.
Winston excelled last weekend in his first start in more than 25 months. He’ll try to repeat the performance when the Browns host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Winston wiped away the cobwebs and passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-24 home win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The performance prompted Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski to name Winston the starter for the rest of the season.
Winston is unmoved, saying that there is only one thing on his list of goals.
“My main focus is to get back out there and have a great practice today and continue to lead this offense to do what we’re capable of doing,” Winston said Wednesday.
There was a time when Winston held the keys to the franchise. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 and made 70 regular season starts over five seasons.
The results were mixed and the Buccaneers were ready to move on after Winston led the NFL in passing yards (5,109) and interceptions (30) in the same campaign in 2019.
Winston then spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and started in 10 games. He joined the Browns as a free agent in March, fully aware that Watson would be the starter.
Now Winston will be the key figure if the underachieving Browns (2-6) want to get back into the playoff mix.
His second straight start comes against the Chargers (4-3), who excel at limiting opposing offenses. Los Angeles leads the NFL in scoring defense (13 points per game) and ranks eighth in total defense (305.4 yards per game).
Winston is no less deterred.
“Our guys are very physical,” Winston said. “Our guys are up to the challenge and I think that’s what football is. They have some good players. I believe in my guys.”
The Chargers played a solid all-around game last weekend while posting a 26-8 home win over the New Orleans Saints. This is their second win since September 15.
The scoring output matched the season high set in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.
Justin Herbert passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints after racking up a season-high 349 yards six days earlier in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The rising star against New Orleans was rookie receiver Ladd McConkey, who had six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. McConkey is a second-round pick out of Georgia.
“Anytime you get into the end zone, it’s big,” McConkey said. “I’m glad I was able to contribute.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh talks about McConkey while Herbert eyes a future standout.
“He’s a complete receiver,” Herbert said. “To get that short game and middle routes where he was so good at that, especially on third downs. Now you add some open balls that you have to respect…We’ve got a real ballplayer on our team. Hands.”
Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa returned on a part-time basis against New Orleans after missing three games with a groin injury.
Bosa was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Stone Smart (ankle), linebacker Denzel Perriman (toe) and cornerback Christian Fulton (hamstring) all missed practice.
Browns midfielder Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) will miss the contest. He was injured in Sunday’s game against the Ravens and spent the night in the hospital after being taken off the field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion) missed practice Wednesday and was called day-to-day by Stefanski. Also missing from practice were guard Joel Bitonio (foot), middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow/triceps) and defensive end Za’Darius Smith (illness).
The Chargers have won the past four meetings.
– Media at the field level