Browns make notable change to QB depth chart ahead of Week 6
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio, at FirstEnergy Stadium. Photo Credit: PHIL MASTURZO / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s status for Week 6 remains unclear, and the team made a change to its depth chart on Wednesday that could prove notable.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that PJ Walker is the No. 2 quarterback on the Cleveland depth chart this week, supplanting rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. That means that Walker, not Thompson-Robinson, will start against the San Francisco 49ers if Watson is unable to play.
Stefanski says PJ Walker is the backup QB this week, which means Walker will be the starter if Watson can’t play.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) October 11, 2023
Thompson-Robinson started in Week 4 for the Browns in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, as Watson was sidelined with a shoulder injury. The rookie went 19/36 with three interceptions while taking four sacks. The team hoped that their Week 5 bye would give Watson time to get healthy, but he still was not practicing on Wednesday, suggesting that there is a very real chance he misses another game.
Walker was meant to be the Chicago Bears’ backup this year, but he surprisingly lost that job in preseason and ended up in Cleveland. He spent the last three seasons primarily as a backup for the Carolina Panthers, where he went 4-3 in seven starts.
