Dorian Thompson-Robinson set for extended role in NFL preseason debut
Dorian Thompson-Robinson will have a large role in his NFL preseason debut on Thursday when the Cleveland Browns take on the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame game.
The former UCLA quarterback was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in this year’s NFL Draft. Cleveland doesn’t have any semblance of a quarterback controversy at this point in the calendar — Deshaun Watson is QB1 — but DTR is fighting with Joshua Dobbs and Kellen Mond for reps and, ultimately, the backup job.
So, getting a chance on Thursday will be crucial.
“I think he’s had some good reps,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday. “DTR is going to play quite a bit in this game, so we’re trying to get him ready to go as a rookie. I think with each one of his reps, he’s taking advantage of them.”
It’s unclear how the Browns plan to roll out their quarterbacks, but Thompson-Robinson could get a second half to work while Dobbs and Mond split the first half. Dobbs was signed this offseason to a one-year, fully guaranteed $2 million deal to serve as Watson’s backup.
But Cleveland then spent a draft pick on the former Bruin and signed him to a four-year, $4.2 million contract. He stands to get good action in the preseason.
Cleveland’s game against the Jets is set for a 5 p.m. PT kickoff on NBC on Thursday, Aug. 3.
The Browns then face the Commanders on Friday, Aug. 11; Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 17; and Kansas City on Saturday, Aug. 26.