Five Things to Know About the Browns’ Rookie Quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Due to Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury, the Cleveland Browns are starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
The rookie will start under center for the Browns (6-3) against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) on Sunday, according to a statement made by head coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday. After being selected in the fifth round out of UCLA, Thompson-Robinson will be making his second NFL start. The 24-year-old is finding solace in the knowledge that this time will be different.
He remarked at a press conference on Thursday, “I’m not stepping out there for the first time; unlike many other individuals out there, I’ve been in an NFL game.” “I am now familiar with all of my keys, what to watch, what to look for in a film, who the important guys are on their defense, and everything else. I’m no longer just blindly walking into the world. I’m heading out there with a plan to work through, things to consider, and things to concentrate on.”
Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, the Browns take on the Steelers in a game that has playoff and AFC North ramifications. Before kickoff, here are five things to know about Cleveland’s new QB1.
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Thompson-Robinson attended Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada, where he played prep football. She is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada. He ran for 426 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, in addition to throwing for 3,275 yards and 38 touchdowns, which helped the team win its ninth straight state championship.
The four-star prospect decided to attend UCLA to further his football career. During Thompson-Robsinson’s five seasons with the Bruins, he passed for 10,710 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 28 more touchdowns on the ground. With 12,536 yards, the quarterback became the only Bruin in history to record more than 12,000 yards in total offense. He also set records for completion percentage (860), total touchdowns (116), touchdown passes, and passing yards at the end of his college career.
This week, Stefanski stated, “He’s played a lot of football.” He is incredibly athletic, capable of making plays, and well-versed in our offensive scheme, among other things. He is a young player, so I believe that he will only grow better.”
admires Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the Jets
As a type of gold standard for playing the position, the current Browns signal-caller and former Bruins quarterback Aaron Rodgers has long been looked up to.
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Thus, Thompson-Robinson’s professional debut beside Rodgers on the opposite sideline was an odd experience. The 2023 preseason began with this year’s Hall of Fame game between the Browns and the Jets. In the fourth quarter of the eventual Browns victory, the rookie quarterback came off the bench and completed the game-winning touchdown pass. Rodgers did not play for the Jets in this game. It did not, however, lessen the experience.
Following the game, Thompson-Robinson remarked, “Pretty special for me.” He has always told me to “just keep going, keep doing what I’m doing, keep my head down, and keep working hard too.” I have been watching him my entire life.
In a third-quarter TV interview, Rodgers continued, “He’s a talented kid.” West Coast kid that he is. I had a great time watching him play at UCLA.”
Is Passionate About Drawing
Drawing is one of Thompson-Robinson’s interests outside of the gridiron. The quarterback stated that he has studied a range of subjects in art since the second grade in a video interview he did for Athlete And earlier this year. “DTR” uses his artistic abilities to create tattoos for himself and, on sometimes, his teammates.
“I won’t let anybody else put their artwork on me,” Thompson-Robinson said in the video.”It needs to come from me.”
Thompson-Robinson has a special meaning tattooed on his right arm. Dwayne Haskins, the deceased quarterback from Ohio State and the NFL, was acquainted with the rookie. Thompson-Robinson now sports a tattoo of Haskins’s QB down his sleeve as a way to respect the player.
Thompson-Rookie Robinson’s Contract
In the 2023 NFL Draft, Thompson-Robinson was chosen by Cleveland as the 140th overall pick.
The rookie signed a four-year, $4.18 million contract with the Browns based on his draft slot, including a $342,272 signing bonus, $342,272 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of little over $1 million, according to Spotrac.He will have a $750,000 base salary and a $835,568 cap hit this season.
Not the Best Start in NFL History
Thompson-Robinson’s second professional start should go better than his first, the Browns are hoping. Against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4, the rookie played center while Watson recovered from an injury. In a 28-3 loss against the Browns, he completed 19 of his 36 attempts for 121 yards and three interceptions.
Thompson-Robinson also acknowledged that the experience had damaged his self-confidence.
This week, he remarked, “It’s difficult when you get an opportunity to play and you don’t play up to your standards—obviously you don’t get the job the next week— “Those feelings all just seem to spontaneously surface. Fortunately, I still work.
“I can still enter this place feeling supported and welcomed by my amazing teammates and staff. They’re telling me to be even more confident than I was before, too. Hence, I’m constantly motivated to give it my all by those guys. Therefore, it’s difficult to hold onto things and move on swiftly.”
Stefanski said on Wednesday that Thompson-Robinson had a difficult situation in Week 4 against a formidable Ravens defense. However, the fourth-year Browns coach stated that he believes it will be beneficial for “DTR” to play the entire week knowing he will be the starter.
During training camp, the 6-foot-2 signal-caller had enough potential that the Browns traded away backup Joshua Dobbs. And instead of starting P.J. Walker this week, Cleveland chose to start the youngster. For the 6-3 Browns, who have won four of their past five games, including two straight, Watson’s loss hurts.
However, there is a sense within the team that Thompson-Robinson can keep Cleveland competitive for the postseason.
“With the guys in this locker room, I still think we can make a run, and I felt like we were turning a corner to do so,” Watson remarked on Wednesday.
