BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said his second career start will be «night and day» from his first one two months ago. «I know what to expect now,» he said Thursday. «I'm not stepping out there for the first time — not going out there wide-eyed anymore.» The Browns named Thompson-Robinson their starter for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Deshaun Watson was lost for the season with a fracture in his throwing shoulder.
Watson injured the shoulder during this past Sunday's 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Thompson-Robinson started the first meeting against the Ravens on Oct.
1 in Week 4 while Watson was dealing with a different shoulder injury, a rotator cuff strain. Thompson-Robinson, however, didn't know he was starting until Watson's pregame warmup determined he couldn't play just a couple of hours before kickoff.
Thompson-Robinson threw three interceptions and took four sacks, as the Ravens won 28-3. Thompson-Robinson said he learned a lot from that experience and noted he feels better prepared for the Steelers. «I know what it takes now to be an NFL quarterback, not just a college quarterback,» he said. «I think I've taken that next step.» The Browns drafted Thompson-Robinson with a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, where he was a five-year starter.