Browns' Stefanski: Deshaun Watson Won't Be Benched for Jameis Winston amid 1-4 Record

The Cleveland Browns are not making a quarterback change.

Following the Browns Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the team would not be making a quarterback switch despite backup Jameis Winston relieving starter Deshaun Watson in the 34-13 loss.

"We're not changing quarterbacks," Stefanski said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "We need to play better, I need to coach better, and that's really all it is."

Watson went 15-of-28 for 125 yards and a touchdown in the loss while also adding 14 yards on three rushes. Winston completed his only pass attempt for 16 yards.

Watson is now up to 852 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions on the season and the Browns sit at 1-4. He has struggled to elevate the offense to a new gear and now the team has a really difficult path to find a path to the postseason.

Winston had his first true action of the 2024 season and while it was limited, his prior experience makes him an intriguing option to force a spark. He has 22,104 career passing yards and 141 touchdowns and has compiled an overall record of 34-46.

Benching Watson could send a message to the team and maybe even light a fire in him that allows him to fight for the job and improve his playing level. It's a difficult decision to make, especially considering that Watson is on the third year of his five-year, $230 million contract.

With that in mind, it looks like Stefanski is not yet ready to move off of Watson and the 29-year-old will have some more opportunities to show why he should remain the starter.