Jameis Winston, the Cleveland Browns' backup quarterback behind Deshaun Watson, has agreed to a one-year deal, he revealed to CBS Sports.
The No. 2 quarterback going forward will be Winston, not Joe Flacco. After Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Flacco joined with Cleveland in the middle of the previous campaign. The Browns secured their first postseason trip since 2020 under the direction of the former Super Bowl MVP, who went on to lead them in four straight victories. During his five starts with the Browns, Flacco led the NFL in passing yards per game with 323 yards. However, Cleveland lost 45-14 at Houston during the opening round of the postseason.
Yes, I still see myself as a beginner, but I've also been asked by the Lord to lead by encouraging and strengthening the men in my immediate vicinity. "My main mission is to work with Deshaun and help him become the best version of himself," he stated to CBS Sports. For whatever reason, Deshaun may need to recover, and I will be prepared to take a few games off of him. However, I must put God's plan ahead of my own selfish ambition. Since my ultimate goal is to win some Super Bowls, and Cleveland's roster appears capable of doing so."
In his four seasons as a backup quarterback in New Orleans, Winston has made ten starts. Prior to that, the Florida State player selected first overall in the 2015 draft was a five-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He threw thirty interceptions and thirty touchdowns in his final season in Tampa.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is another player on the Browns roster. In his debut season, Thompson-Robinson started three games.
Additionally on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Browns and running back Nyheim Hines had reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million. The Buffalo Bills released Hines this week. He suffered an ACL tear in his left knee during a personal watercraft accident, which prevented him from playing in the 2023 season.
Winston joined the Saints during the 2020 campaign, serving as Derek Carr's backup most recently. Due to a restructure he accepted in January for salary cap concerns, he is officially still under contract with the Saints, but his release is really a formality.
Winston was supposed to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the summer. This Wednesday, the last day of the 2023 league season, was originally scheduled to mark the automatic voiding of Winston's contract.
He did, however, modify his deal on January 6th, taking a $100,000 signing bonus in return for moving the contract's vacant year to the final day of the 2025 league season. This allows the Saints to save money toward the 2024 salary ceiling by releasing him as a post-June 1 cut.
2019 was Winston's final full season as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback. That season, he finished with 33 touchdowns and led the league in carries (626), yards (5,109), and interceptions (33) as well. In the following offseason, Winston joined the Saints to serve as Drew Brees' backup quarterback, while the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady.
Winston tore his ACL in his left knee seven games into the 2021 season, despite the fact that he had replaced Brees as the starting quarterback.
After trying to sign Watson in the summer, the Saints signed Winston again as a starter in 2022. Due to foot and back issues, Winston was limited to just three games of action and rested in Week 4, but he never reclaimed Andy Dalton's starting position.
In order to support Carr, Winston rejoined the Saints in the offseason at a lower salary. In a resounding victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he concluded the 2023 campaign with a contentious pass to Saints running back Jamaal Williams, who scored after head coach Dennis Allen ordered the squad to kneel.