Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) attempts a pass during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Report: Browns to start QB Jameis Winston vs. Ravens

The Cleveland Browns are counting on Jameis Winston to start at quarterback at home on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

He will replace Deshaun Watson, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon when he appeared to hyperextend his leg on a non-contact play last Sunday in the team’s 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Browns were 1-6 under Watson.

After the injury, the Browns turned to second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and he suffered a finger injury in the fourth quarter.

With Watson out for the season and Thompson-Robinson’s availability uncertain, the Browns signed Bailey Zappe off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on Tuesday.

Winston, 30, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers. After starting the first five seasons for Tampa Bay, he spent four seasons in a backup role with the New Orleans Saints before signing a one-year deal with the Browns.

He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Winston has appeared in 98 games (80 starts) with a 34-46-0 record as a starter. He has a career 61.1 percent completion percentage, throwing for 22,187 yards with 142 TDs and 99 interceptions.

Against the AFC North-leading Ravens (5-2), Winston will become the 39th starting quarterback for the Browns since their return to Cleveland in 1999, when No. 1 overall draft pick Tim Couch manned the position.

–Field Level Media

April 20, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA: Texas Longhorns quarterbacks Arch Manning (16), left, and  Quinn Ewers (3) throw passes while warming up ahead of the Longhorns' spring Orange and White game at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-Imagn Images via American Statesman

No. 1 Texas won’t name starting QB until Friday

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he won’t decide until Friday whether Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning will quarterback the nation’s No. 1 team on Saturday against Mississippi State.

Ewers left the Longhorns’ Week 3 win over UTSA with an abdominal strain and was replaced by Manning. The redshirt freshman started in Ewers’ place last weekend in a 51-3 drubbing of Louisiana-Monroe as Texas moved to 4-0.

Sarkisian told reporters Thursday that he wants Ewers, in his third season as the Longhorns starter, to have the maximum time to recover before naming his QB.

“We’re going to decide on the quarterback thing (Friday),” Sarkisian said. “It won’t be a secret. We’re not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes. Just want to give Quinn every opportunity to see if he’s ready to play and what he looks like. I’d say he’s improved every day. I think Arch has had a very good week.”

In his first college start, Manning was 15-of-29 passing for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against ULM. In relief of Ewers in the UTSA game, Manning completed 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards with four TD passes and 67-yard touchdown run.

Ewers is 19-6 as a starter at Texas. He has 6,347 career passing yards, good for seventh place in program history. His 45 passing touchdowns rank sixth.

Mississippi State will be the first-ever Southeastern Conference opponent for the Longhorns. The Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1 SEC) lost their conference opener to Florida 45-28 last Saturday and lost quarterback Blake Shapen for the season to a shoulder injury.

Freshman Michael Van Buren will get his first college start for the Bulldogs on Saturday in Austin.

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Jerod Mayo makes Patriots’ QB call, but he’s not telling

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo made the call and knows the winner of the quarterback competition between Jacoby Brissett and rookie No. 3 pick Drake Maye.

But he’s not ready to spill the tea.

“I know everyone wants to know that. I’m going to talk to the individual players tomorrow — I’m going to have a team meeting tomorrow — and then I’ll get it to you guys,” Mayo said. “Yes, we’ve made a decision; just haven’t communicated. And honestly, I want those guys to hear it first from me before they hear it from someone else.”

When training camp began, the Patriots identified Brissett, a 31-year-old journeyman with 48 career starts with five NFL teams, as the clear No. 1 on the quarterback depth chart. Mayo lauded his “veteran presence” and quick mastery of the offense.

But Mayo said earlier this week Maye had “outplayed” Brissett before hedging that performance measures weren’t the only factor he’ll consider in a decision that will involve offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, others on the coaching staff and personnel boss Eliot Wolf.

“Look, they’ve gone through the process as well. They’ve gone through the spring with these players, they’ve gone through training camp with these players,” Mayo said. “I’m sure they all have an opinion on who should be the starting quarterback, but I don’t think I have to explain it to anyone else. It’s my decision, and if it doesn’t work, blame me.”

Mayo likely doesn’t want the blame of a setback in Maye’s development. One critical concern evident in training camp was the pass protection on the offensive line.

Maye was 21 of 32 for 192 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, when he totaled seven carries for 32 yards with one touchdown. Brissett was 5 of 14 for 36 yards, threw a red-zone interception and posted a QB rating of 14.6.

Even if Maye begins the season as Brissett’s backup on Sept. 8 at Cincinnati, nothing is set in stone, the New England coach said.

“I would say one thing: I think it’s important to remember, what’s good for the team today may not be good for the team weeks down the line,” Mayo said.

–Field Level Media

Mar 4, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown speaks to media at the start of spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Devin Brown, Will Howard ready for QB competition at Ohio State

Ohio State’s Devin Brown had a strong message Monday for people who think he’s intimidated by a tough quarterback room this spring.

Bottom line: He isn’t transferring.

“I’ve said it through and through. I’m a Buckeye, and I’m here to compete, no matter what,” he told reporters in Columbus, Ohio, the day before spring practices begin.

“Honestly,” he continued, “I think people are cowards. I think people have this thought in their own heads that I’m gonna leave and I’m a quitter, but that’s never been me. These people live wherever, in their mom’s basement, saying stuff about me and they don’t know (expletive). Excuse my language, but they don’t know anything. They don’t know why I am. They don’t know who I’ve been, and that’s always who I’ve been.”

Brown, a redshirt sophomore, lost the starting job to Kyle McCord before the 2023 season, but when McCord announced his transfer at the end of the regular season, Brown was given the starting assignment in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri.

But Brown left the game in the second quarter of the 14-3 loss with an ankle injury, with freshman Lincoln Kienholz taking over.

Since then, the Buckeyes have brought Kansas State graduate transfer Will Howard and 2024 blue-chip recruits Julian Sayin and Air Noland in to compete with Brown and Kienholz. They will be trying to impress head coach Ryan Day and Chip Kelly, the new offensive coordinator.

Howard, who started 27 games at Kansas State, has one year of eligibility left. And he sounded confident when he addressed reporters Monday.

“I didn’t come here to be nervous or to be timid or anything like that,” Howard said. “I’m ready to go, and the fact of the matter is you know it might not all be perfect. I might make a few mistakes but that’s how I’m going to learn and that’s how we’re going to learn as a team.

“Nothing’s too big for me. Nothing’s too big for this team. Spring ball, it’s going to be a lot of learning across the board but I’m excited for that. I want to embrace that.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches during the second quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Missouri Tigers at AT&T Stadium.

Ohio State awaiting final word on Bill O’Brien status

Ohio State coach Ryan Day hired Bill O’Brien as his offensive coordinator this offseason, entrusting him to call plays for the Buckeyes in the 2024 season.

And Day is proceeding with that plan until he hears otherwise.

O’Brien, the former head coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State, is a top contender for the recently opened head-coaching job at Boston College, interviewing earlier this week. Day told reporters O’Brien was on campus in Columbus and at work on Wednesday.

He said he had “no update” about O’Brien’s future with the program, although ESPN reported Boston College is expected to name a head coach this week. Day has a Plan B should O’Brien, his hand-picked choice to relieve him of play-calling duties, depart.

“It isn’t just one of those situations where you take out one guy and put another guy in there and move on,” Day said. “It doesn’t work that way. But yes, we talked to different people for that position, and we have contingency plans in place. Hopefully, we don’t have to go down that road, though.”

Day also addressed a problem most college coaches would love to have entering spring practice: a glut of quarterbacks.

Following the transfer of last year’s starter, Kyle McCord,” Day said he anticipates a “fierce competition” at the position.

The Buckeyes have in their quarterback room Will Howard, an experienced transfer from Kansas State; returnees Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz; and Julian Sayin and Air Noland, incoming freshmen ranked as the No. 3 and No. 7 quarterbacks, respectively, in the 2024 class by 247Sports.

The youngsters will try to push the veteran Howard.

“Will came here to play football, so I hope that’s his mentality, and I hope all the guys have that mentality,” Day said. “He’s got to learn the offense and get going.”

–Field Level Media

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Trenton Bourguet (16) grimaces after an ankle injury that forced him to leave the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs in the first half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Sept. 16, 2023.

Arizona State battling injuries at quarterback with USC next

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham might need to pull a quarterback or two out of his hat before the Sun Devils take on nationally ranked Southern California next weekend.

Freshman starter Jaden Rashada didn’t dress in Saturday’s 29-0 home loss to Fresno State and is expected to be out four to six weeks with a lingering unspecifed injury, Dillingham said.

The starter against Fresno State, Trenton Bourguet, departed the game in the first quarter with an apparent left leg injury and resurfaced later with crutches and a walking boot on his left foot. He will have an MRI, Dillingham said.

Then, the backup’s backup, Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne, sustained a “muscular injury” to a leg and had to come out. He was 5-for-13 passing for 52 yards and lost the ball four times — twice on interceptions, twice on fumbles.

The leading passer on the day was Jacob Conover, the only other scholarship quarterback on the roster. The fourth-string sophomore was 6-for-16 passing for 89 yards, and he threw two more interceptions, giving Fresno State five on the day.

Arizona State turned the ball over eight times in all.

“This is football,” junior nickel back Jordan Clark said of the team’s injuries, per 247Sports. “That’s the risk whenever you put your helmet on and then strap your pads up. The mood around the team is just next man up. You got to play football. And if anybody’s mood isn’t that, that’ll get corrected.”

Before Saturday, the Sun Devils hadn’t been shut out in a home game since then-No. 2 USC beat them 50-0 in the 1988 season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up before the game between the Utah Utes and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Draft record-setter: 11 QBs taken in first 150 picks

The Green Bay Packers’ selection of quarterback Sean Clifford from Penn State in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday was a record breaker.

NFL Network reported that this is first draft in history in which 11 quarterbacks were taken in the first 150 picks.

The Packers nabbed Clifford with pick 149.

The Minnesota Vikings went on to add Jaren Hall of BYU with the 164th pick, making him the 12th quarterback selected in the first five rounds.

The first 10 picks selected, and their draft number are:
No. 1: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
No. 2: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
No. 4: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
No. 33: Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
No. 68 : Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions
No. 127: Jake Haener, New Orleans Saints
No. 128: Stetson Bennett, Los Angeles Rams
No. 135: Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
No. 139: Clayton Tune, Arizona Cardinals
No. 140: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel talks with quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) between plays against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa out, rookie Skylar Thompson to start

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is out for the AFC wild-card game at Buffalo on Sunday.

Tagovailoa has not cleared concussion protocol and is prohibited from football activities. Head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa officially has been ruled out, and the Dolphins are preparing rookie Skylar Thompson to start against the Bills.

Tagovailoa is in the protocol for the third time this season after self-reporting symptoms following a Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Dolphins broke a five-game losing streak and won a wild-card spot with a 9-8 record by virtue of their 11-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Thompsonm a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft, was 20 of 31 for 152 passing yards in Week 18, drawing the starting assignment over Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater was active last week but limited by an injury to the pinkie finger on his right hand.

Miami is fixed on the short-term, McDaniel said, which includes winning at Buffalo and getting Tagovailoa healthy. The first-year head coach didn’t want to discuss any long-term plans for the quarterback position, only saying the focus is on helping Tagovailoa “getting to full health as a human being.”

McDaniel said the Dolphins aren’t ruling out running back Raheem Mostert this week despite a broken thumb. Mostert leads the Dolphins with 891 rushing yards.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks Jalen Hurts (1) and Gardner Minshew (10) run out of the tunnel for warmups before the game against the Washington Football Team at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles to separate QBs as a COVID-19 precaution

Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts and his backups will be kept apart at the team training facility to try to keep COVID-19 from wiping out the team’s quarterback corps.

The Eagles (8-7) sit in wild-card position entering the Week 17 game on Sunday against the host Washington Football Team (6-9).

“We’re going to definitely make even more adjustments than what we need to just keep everybody safe,” coach Nick Sirianni told the media Monday. “The quarterbacks will be in separate rooms. We’re going to be even more safe with them being in separate rooms.”

Gardner Minshew and Reid Sinnett are the Eagles’ other quarterbacks.

Washington coach Ron Rivera knows the feeling of having a COVID-infected quarterback room. When the Eagles beat Washington 27-17 on Dec. 21, Washington was in the throes of a COVID-19 crisis. Starter Taylor Heinicke and backup Kyle Allen both were on the reserve/COVID-19 list, forcing Rivera to turn to Garrett Gilbert, who hadn’t started a game in more than a year.

Saints rookie Ian Book also started Monday night’s loss to the Miami Dolphins as New Orleans’ experienced quarterbacks — Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian — tested positive for COVID-19.

“To win this game this week, we’re going to need all hands on deck,” Sirianni said. “And so what is the best course of action? Obviously I’m talking to our doctors and our trainers.”

The Eagles placed defensive end Derek Barnett, cornerback Andre Chachere and defensive end Tarron Jackson on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, bringing their total seven.

Philadelphia could clinch a wild-card spot with a win over Washington and some help. The Eagles close the season Jan. 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, who have clinched the NFC East title.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2020; Frisco, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones answers questions during a press conference at Ford Center at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Jones: Broncos’ QB situation not worse than what Cowboys faced

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likely raised a few eyebrows when comparing his team’s quarterback situation to that of the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos lost 31-3 on Sunday to the New Orleans Saints with practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback. Starter Drew Lock, backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were forced to quarantine after they were ruled to have had close contact with quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for the virus last Thursday.

Hinton completed 1 of 9 passes for 13 yards and two interceptions against the Saints.

“I don’t know that Denver had any more of a challenge than we’ve had with (Ben) DiNucci or with the young quarterbacks that we’ve had,” Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 FM the Fan in Dallas. “And, by the way, two or three of those (Broncos) quarterbacks will be back from the (reserve/COVID-19 list).”

The Cowboys have been forced to use a quarterback carousel after Dak Prescott sustained a season-ending ankle injury in a 37-34 victory against the New York Giants on Oct. 11. When backup Andy Dalton was forced out of two games because of a concussion and COVID-19, Dallas put Garrett Gilbert under center, as well as rookie seventh-round pick DiNucci, who completed 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards in a 23-9 loss to Philadelphia on Nov. 1.

Jones also took issue with the Broncos quarterbacks reportedly not wearing masks as required when they were together. Lock has since apologized for letting his guard down.

“Boy, we have been schooled in the NFL — the teams have been schooled (by COVID-19),” Jones said. “You had really better pay attention to your protocols. You better manage. Don’t just give it lip service.

“Don’t just roll your eyes back and say, ‘That happens to them. That doesn’t happen to me.’ … And I don’t mean to be trite about it, but that happens in football. Better be ready to have somebody come in there. All teams are advised that do logical things relative to separation, relative to having your players available when you got COVID challenge and do those things — because it could make a difference in scoring points or make a difference in how you defend somebody.

“That’s part of coaching. That’s part of managing the game.”

–Field Level Media