Jameis Winston was just an afterthought earlier this month when the Cleveland Browns had a full stable of quarterbacks.
But Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury changed the dynamic and Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s injury to a throwing finger in the same Oct. 20 game fully opened the door for the 30-year-old Winston.
Winston excelled last weekend in his first start in 25-plus months. He will attempt to repeat the performance when the Browns host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Winston wiped off the cobwebs and passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-24 home victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
The performance prompted Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski to anoint Winston as the starter for the rest of the season.
Winston wasn’t moved, saying there is only one thing on his list of goals.
“My main focus is getting back out there and having a great practice today and continuing to lead this offense to do what we’re capable of doing,” Winston said Wednesday.
There was a time when Winston owned the keys to a franchise. He was the No. 1 overall selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 and made 70 regular-season starts over five seasons.
Results were mixed and the Buccaneers were ready to move on after Winston led the NFL in passing yardage (5,109) and interceptions (30) in the same campaign in 2019.
Winston then spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and started 10 games. He joined the Browns as a free agent in March, very aware that Watson would be the starter.
Now Winston will be the key figure if the underachieving Browns (2-6) are to get back into the playoff mix.
His second consecutive start comes against the Chargers (4-3), who are excelling in limiting opposing offenses. Los Angeles leads the NFL in scoring defense (13 points per game) and is eighth in total defense (305.4 yards per game).
Winston isn’t the least bit deterred.
“Our guys are physical,” Winston said. “Our guys are up for the challenge and I think that’s what football is. They got some good guys. 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. It was just their second victory since Sept. 15.
The scoring output matched a season high posted in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.
Justin Herbert passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints after having a season-high 349 yards six days earlier in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The breakout 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 from Georgia.
“Any time you get in the end zone, it’s a big deal,” McConkey said. “Just glad I was able to contribute.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh raves about McConkey while Herbert spots a future standout.
“He’s a complete receiver,” Herbert said. “To have that short game and intermediate routes where he’s been so good at it, especially on third downs. Now you add open up some of those go balls that you have to respect … we’ve got a true ball player on our hands.”
Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa returned on a part-time basis against New Orleans after missing three games with a hip injury.
Bosa was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Stone Smartt (ankle), linebacker Denzel Perryman (toe) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) all missed practice.
Browns linebacker 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 carted off the field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion) missed practice Wednesday and was termed day-by-day by Stefanski. Also missing 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.