Report: Browns' Bailey Zappe Will Be QB1 Over Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. Ravens

The Cleveland Browns are reportedly benching Dorian Thompson-Robinson in favor of finishing out the season behind Bailey Zappe.

Zappe will start Saturday's Week 18 game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Thompson-Robinson could still play in relief, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The Ravens could clinch the AFC North title with a win on Saturday. The Browns are meanwhile in contention with the three-win Patriots, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.

The game will mark Zappe's first NFL action since the 2023 season with the New England Patriots. He will be the fourth quarterback to start for the Browns this season.

Thompson-Robinson served as QB1 for the last two games, most recently going 24-of-47 for 170 yards with an interception and a lost fumble in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Thompson-Robinson was limited in practice this week with a calf injury. Jameis Winston, who started seven straight games for the Browns earlier this season, was also limited with a right shoulder injury.

Zappe made six starts in 2023 after taking over for Mac Jones halfway through the Patriots' season.

He marked a 2-4 record and threw six touchdowns with nine interceptions before being released by the Patriots in August.

The Browns signed him off the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad after Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending Achilles injury.

Watson was initially replaced by Winston, whose finger injury in Week 15 led to Thompson-Robinson getting his own shot at QB1.

Stefanski said when naming Thompson-Robinson the starter for Week 16 that the decision would be "week-to-week," while the second-year signal caller indicated to reporters he saw his call-up as an opportunity to audition for the starting role in 2025 (h/t ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.)

The Browns recently restructured Watson's contract in an apparent move to keep him in the Cleveland quarterback room in 2025, per Oyefusi. Thompson-Robinson is the only other Browns quarterback currently signed for next season.

Stefanski's Week 18 decision marks the continuation of decades of frequent signal-calling turnover for the Browns. Zappe will now be the 40th quarterback to start for the franchise since 1999, according to Tom Withers of the Associated Press.