Jameis Winston’s role with the Browns goes beyond just being the backup for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
While he is indeed the No. 2 quarterback, he is also an enthusiastic supporter of the first team.
Winston, who was a top NFL draft pick and joined the Browns as a free agent in March, expressed on Thursday that he believes Watson will meet the high expectations set for him when he came to Cleveland two years ago.
Winston is confident that Watson will succeed.
“He wants to be, and will be, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback,” said Winston, conveying his message about Watson with great enthusiasm, similar to a preacher delivering a sermon.
“And honestly, that’s why I’m here,” he added. “Because I guarantee you, I’m feeding that into him.”
Winston’s supportive remarks are not surprising. The 30-year-old has a reputation for being a team player after five seasons with Tampa Bay and four with New Orleans. He values his role with the Browns as an opportunity to mentor Watson.
Winston is set to start in Saturday’s exhibition game against Green Bay, as the Browns are taking a careful approach with Watson. Watson had shoulder surgery in November and is still working on building his strength and stamina.
Watson has been under a lot of scrutiny during the spring and summer, with every throw being analyzed by the media and fans.
Despite some concerns, Winston has seen enough positive progress from Watson in recent months to be confident that Watson will be ready for the season.
“When you can go out, you can see practice, you can knick-knack, this-that, paddy whack, give a dog a bone — Deshaun Watson is going to turn it on,” Winston said before Thursday’s practice. “He’s always going to find a way to shine when the lights come on.”
Watson then paused. “Man, I just rhymed,” he said.
But the challenge for the Browns is getting the best out of Watson, who has only played in 12 games over two seasons since signing a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. He was suspended for 11 games in 2023 and then fractured his shoulder socket in November.
Winston’s belief in Watson goes back to a night in 2017, when he saw Watson lead Clemson to victory over Alabama in the national championship. Winston was impressed by Watson’s performance and felt he was meant for greatness.
“And in that game, there were some plays where, man, I saw him get hit. Hard,” Winston said. “I saw him get, man, beat up, but he persevered. … Deshaun was built for adversity, he was built for resilience.”
The Browns see Winston as more than just a knowledgeable guide for Watson; they also view him as a safety net in case of injury. With Cleveland having started five quarterbacks last season due to injuries, they understand the importance of having depth at the position.
Winston, who has started 80 games since joining the Buccaneers in 2015, believes the backup role is very important.
“Especially over the past few years with a lot of the No. 1 guys going down at any given moment,” he said. “The backup quarterback role is very important.
So definitely being in tune with your guys, having great chemistry with the cadences, with the calls and everything that comes with being that strong quarterback, it’s really flowing through the backup.
“That’s the only position out there, where’s there’s only one man. You have to be ready at all times and I’m definitely ready for that role.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski praised Winston’s influence and joked about his lively personality. “You hear him before you see him,” Stefanski said with a smile.
Aside from the jokes, Stefanski values having a reliable player he can count on—an actual backup plan.
“You don’t get a ton of reps. You have to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice,” Stefanski said. “But you can have a great impact on the football team, on the field and off the field. So, I’ve seen some great ones. I don’t think it’s a mistake when you see a lot of coaches come from that backup quarterback position.
“It’s kind of like backup catchers and point guards. It’s a cerebral position where I think you get a lot of guys that understand all the nuances of this game.”
