Browns' Thompson-Robinson not 'wide-eyed anymore' ahead of 2nd NFL start

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is expecting a much better outcome in his second NFL start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers after a disappointing debut last month.

"I know what to expect now. ... I'm not stepping out there for the first time," Thompson-Robinson said Thursday, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I know all my keys, what to look at throughout film, what to watch, who the key players are on their defense, and everything now.

"So I'm not just going out there wide-eyed anymore. I'm going out there with the things to look at, things to focus on, and a plan to be able to attack them."

The Browns are turning to Thompson-Robinson over veteran P.J. Walker for Week 11 after starter Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. A fifth-round pick out of UCLA this year, Thompson-Robinson struggled in his first NFL start in Week 4, recording a 52.8% completion rate, 121 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. He was also sacked four times in Cleveland's 28-3 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens.

Watson remained sidelined in the following weeks, but the Browns started Walker instead.

"It's going to be night and day," Thompson-Robinson said. "Just my progression, my maturity, how I've handled the week thus far and all the weeks before it - just being able to learn from that first experience, I think, is going to help me a bunch."

Thompson-Robinson believes Cleveland should remain optimistic about the remainder of the season despite losing its starting quarterback.

"We shouldn't have a change in mindset, a change in goals. Our goals are still going to be the same whether it's me, P.J., or Deshaun," he said.

Watson completed 61.4% of his passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns against four interceptions in six starts this season. The 28-year-old posted one of his best moments with Cleveland in Week 10, going 14-for-14 passing in the second half en route to helping the team earn a statement 33-31 win over the Ravens.

The Browns, who own one of the NFL's premier defenses, enter Week 11 with a 6-3 record.

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