Jameis Winston didn't 'protect the football,' so he's uncertain if he'll be Browns starter
CLEVELAND — There was just over 13 minutes remaining in Sunday's 21-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs when Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had seen enough.
Quarterback Jameis Winston threw his third interception of the day, and his second in the end zone. At that point, Stefanski made the decision to have Dorian Thompson-Robinson finish out the remainder of the game.
Who finishes out the remaining three games of the Browns' lost season wasn't something Stefanski was ready to address, saying, "I'm not going to get into any decisions right now." Winston, though, understood what would be the No. 1 reason why he wouldn't be the starting quarterback next Sunday when Cleveland travels to Cincinnati to face the Bengals.
It's the same reason why Winston wasn't the quarterback for the Browns' final two possessions against Kansas City. It had everything to do with turnovers, of which he accounted for half of Cleveland's six in the game.
"It's required for the quarterback to protect the football," Winston said, "to give your team a chance to win. The leadership decided that my time was up."
Winston, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 146 yards, has thrown 12 interceptions in the seven games he's been the Browns' starting quarterback. Eight of those have come in the last three games, with almost every one of them of the back-breaking variety.
That fact, which has always been part of the Jameis Winston Experience dating back to his debut season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, isn't even something he can argue. If Stefanski were to go with Thompson-Robinson — who threw his own pick Sunday while completing 4 of 9 passes for 18 yards and a 12.0 passer rating — or even No. 3 quarterback Bailey Zappe, Winston understands the argument against him.
"He's been coaching for a long time, and whatever he decides I trust it," Winston said. "I know what I'm capable of doing. But throughout the course of the season, especially the last few games where we have not had a game without a turnover, I think that's very critical. That's going to be critical in his decision-making process. … I got some things I got to work on.
"This is something that's been a part of my career, man, especially in 2019. Sometimes I view it as a spiritual battle. I just, I'm going to continue to fight and continue to get better."
Nearly two weeks ago, it was two interceptions returned for touchdowns and a third pick in the end zone that spelled doom in Denver against the Broncos. A week ago, his two picks in Pittsburgh led to a Steelers touchdown and choked out one promising Cleveland drive.
Sunday against the back-to-back Super Bowl winners, Winston added to the level of frustration with one pick by safety Bryan Cook into double coverage on a post pattern to Elijah Moore and another that cornerback Trent McDuffie snagged on the sideline. Both came in the end zone as the Browns were mounting scoring threats.
"These interceptions, sometimes they can be skewed to be something that's like, oh my gosh, it's decision making," Winston said. "But I just encourage people to go watch the film. Today, the first one that I threw, man, they got me on the disguise coverage. I didn't see the backside safety. I thought I was throwing a touchdown to Elijah, and the guy made a great play."
Neither of those interceptions resulted in points for Kansas City, either, which could be construed as a minor win. The other pick, by linebacker Nick Bolton on the first play of the third quarter of a ball that went off running back Nick Chubb's hands, led to Xavier Worthy's 21-yard touchdown run and a 21-0 Chiefs lead.
That was one of two Chiefs touchdowns set up by Browns turnovers. James Proche II fumbled the first Kansas City punt of the game at the Cleveland 21, and it was turned into seven Chiefs points.
The Browns have now turned the ball over 19 times dating back to Week 8, a span in which they have gone 2-5. Winston has been responsible for 14 of those, with two fumbles to go with the 12 picks.
"Well, I believe, one, that has something to do with me, right?" Winston said. "I like to toss the ball around. I have to be more precise with my passes, and I have to just give us a better chance. Also, when you throw the ball a lot, that happens.
"Today it was different. Today we had one tipped off a guy's finger. We had one that was a 50-50 ball and a guy made the play."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceusterlingABJ