The Cleveland Browns (1-6) could be without two of their quarterbacks in Week 8 following their injury-riddled loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4).
Starter Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury while backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson exited the game with a finger injury.
As a result, head coach Kevin Stefanski named quarterback Jamies Winston the team's starter for its matchup against the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) this week.
Winston played well in relief of Thompson-Robinson on Sunday, throwing for 67 yards and a touchdown. Now he's ready to prove it for a full game.
"I view this as an opportunity to go out there and be my very best," Winston said via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "And when I'm my very best, I'm a great NFL starter."
Winston began his NFL career as the No. 1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, but he never lived up to expectations.
From 2015-19, he threw for 19,737 yards, 121 touchdowns and 88 touchdowns.
Winston eventually joined the New Orleans Saints, but he was primarily a backup during that four-year span (2020-23).
He signed a one-year deal with the Browns this offseason to back up Watson, but that was short-lived as he's made his way into the starting lineup less than halfway into the season.
Winston is grateful for the opportunity, which could earn him the starting gig for the rest of the year if he plays well.
"I'm extremely grateful to have yet another opportunity to do what the Lord has called me to do in the NFL, and that's be a starting NFL quarterback," Winston continued. "So I'm beyond grateful for this, I am prepared and I'll do my very best."
Winston marks Cleveland's 39th starting quarterback since 1999, which is by far the most in the NFL.
