Ex-Browns Starting QB Falls in Debut Despite Strong Showing

Dorian Thompson-Robinson put up among the finest numbers of his profession in his first UFL begin, nevertheless it was not sufficient to snap the Birmingham Stallions’ shedding streak.

Thompson-Robinson, a former Cleveland Browns draft decide, accomplished 28 of 43 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-28 loss to the DC Defenders on Friday evening. He additionally rushed for 43 yards and a rating, accounting for 3 complete touchdowns.

The loss prolonged Birmingham’s shedding streak to 4 video games, dropping the Stallions to 1-4. Thompson-Robinson had been with the Stallions for lower than every week, acquired in a trade from the Orlando Storm on April 19. Birmingham despatched quarterback Matt Corral and defensive finish Amani Bledsoe to Orlando in exchange for Thompson-Robinson.

With 5 days of follow beneath his belt, Thompson-Robinson bought the beginning and moved the ball successfully. But turnovers unraveled Birmingham. Thompson-Robinson was picked off twice, though each on tipped passes.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson Struggled With Browns

The Browns chosen Thompson-Robinson in the fifth spherical (No. 140 general) of the 2023 draft out of UCLA, the place he left as this system’s all-time chief in complete offense.

He made a right away impression as a rookie, successful the backup job behind Deshaun Watson after a robust preseason. When Watson went down with a shoulder damage, Thompson-Robinson was thrust into motion. The outcomes weren’t fairly. I’ve accomplished 121 of 230 passes for half of 1 mile with one touchdown and 10 interceptions throughout his time in Cleveland.

Cleveland dealt Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles forward of final season as a part of a commerce for Kenny Pickett. But his stint there was short-lived. He was waived earlier than the common season and, regardless of a number of exercises, by no means landed on a roster elsewhere.

The Orlando Storm took an opportunity on him in the league’s quarterback draft in January. Early momentum pointed to Thompson-Robinson as the favourite to begin for the enlargement workforce, however Jack Plummer ultimately won the job during training camp.

That resolution has paid off for Orlando, which is 4-1 this season. Plummer has emerged as one of many UFL’s high quarterbacks, throwing for 996 yards, eight touchdowns, and only one interception.

Browns Add Explosive Rookie QB

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, the Browns do not seem any nearer to fixing their quarterback scenario than they had been when Thompson-Robinson was nonetheless in the combination.

No starter has been named, with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel all in the operating. The workforce additionally added one other layer to the competitors in the draft, selecting Taylen Green in the sixth round.

At 6-foot-6, 227 kilos, Green brings uncommon bodily instruments. I’ve turned heads at the NFL Combine with a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad leap, whereas additionally operating a 4.36 40-yard sprint, the third-fastest ever on the place.

Across 53 video games at Boise State and Arkansas, Green totaled 9,662 passing yards with 59 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, whereas including 2,405 dashing yards and 35 extra scores on the bottom.

Still, he is considered as a developmental possibility quite than a real contender for the beginning job. Early on, his path to the sector seemingly comes in situational packages designed to leverage his athleticism quite than a full-time function beneath middle.

JR DeGroote JR DeGroote is a workers author for Heavy.com, the place he has coated the NFL, NBA, and trending sports activities tales since 2019. His work focuses on among the most passionate fanbases in sports activities, together with reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about JR DeGroote