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The Cleveland Browns are reportedly benching Dorian Thompson-Robinson in favor of finishing the season behind Bailey Zappe.
Zappe will start Saturday's Week 18 game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, according to Cleveland.com Mary Kay Cabot.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Thompson-Robinson could still play in relief, according to NFL Network Mike Grafolo.
The Ravens could clinch the AFC North title with a win on Saturday. The Browns, meanwhile, are in a battle with the three-win Patriots, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.
The game will mark Zappe's first NFL action since the 2023 season with the New England Patriots. He will be the fourth quarterback to start for the Browns this season.
Thompson-Robinson has served as QB1 the past two games, most recently going 24-of-47 for 170 yards with an interception and a fumble in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Thompson-Robinson was limited in training this week with a calf injury. Jameis Winston, who started seven straight games for the Browns earlier this season, was also limited with a right shoulder injury.
Zappe made six starts in 2023 after taking over for Mac Jones midway through the Patriots' season.
He posted a 2-4 record and threw six touchdowns with nine interceptions before he was released by the Patriots in August.
The Browns signed from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad after Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending Achilles injury.
Watson was initially replaced by Winston, whose Week 15 finger injury led to Thompson-Robinson getting his own shot at QB1.
Stefanski he said when naming Thompson-Robinson the starter for Week 16 that the decision would be “week-to-week,” while the second-year signal caller indicated to reporters that he sees his call-up as an opportunity to audition for a starting role in 2025 (h/t ESPN- a Daniel Oyefusi.)
The Browns recently restructured Watson's contract in an apparent move to keep him in Cleveland's quarterback room until 2025. Oyefusi. Thompson-Robinson is currently the Browns' only other quarterback signed for the next season.
Stefanski's decision for Week 18 marks the continuation of decades of frequent signal changes for the Browns. Zappe will now become the 40th quarterback to start for the franchise since 1999, according to Tom Withers of Associated Press.
