'Whirlwind' rise for Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Cleveland Browns No. 2 quarterback spot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The call literally came out of the blue for Dorian Thompson-Robinson. So much so that the Browns now-backup quarterback was still trying to process it all days later.
"What a whirlwind," Thompson-Robinson said after the Browns' preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. "I got the call from (general manager Andrew Berry) when I was half-asleep. We just got off of work. It's moving fast, but I'm trying to take it all in and stay locked in with whatever the quarterback room needs me to be."
To say the situation was moving fast for the Browns as well is an understatement. As of 12:30 p.m. last Thursday, coach Kevin Stefanski was firm that Joshua Dobbs, whom the team brought back as a free agent in April, was going to be the No. 2 behind Deshaun Watson.
By 5 p.m. that day, Dobbs and a seventh-round pick in next year's draft were heading to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a fifth-round pick. That made the Browns' first fifth-round pick in this past April's draft, Thompson-Robinson, the new No. 2.
"We feel really good about Dorian as our No. 2," Stefanski said after the Chiefs game. "How that came about, as you guys know, really wasn’t on our radar. It’s tough to lose Dobbs because he’s such a good person and obviously a great player. They really wanted him and I think that speaks to his talent and to the person. You hate to lose such a good guy, but I’m really excited for him and his future. We have a ton of confidence in Dorian. He’s a young player that we feel like will continue to get better.”
No one is more confident about that than Thompson-Robinson, who went from intriguing prospect in rookie minicamp to Watson's backup in the blink of an eye. Of all of the Browns seven drafted rookies, no one had a better start-to-finish preseason than the record-setting quarterback out of UCLA.
The thing is, just don't ask him about his final preseason performance against the reigning Super Bowl champions' backups. Over four series between the second and third quarters, Thompson-Robinson completed 7 of 12 passes for 92 yards, was sacked once and had one 4-yard run.
However, Thompson-Robinson's 20 offensive snaps netted 78 yards, and none of the four drives ended beyond the Kansas City 49.
"There's a lot more work that needs to be done," Thompson-Robinson said. "Today was not my cleanest day by far, and so just looking to build upon today. But, no, just the responsibility in the room now for me is a lot bigger."
That means, despite being a rookie, Thompson-Robinson has to grow up in a hurry. The 23-year-old has shown the flashes of brilliance over four preseason games, completing 37 of 58 (63.8%) passes for 440 yards with two touchdowns and a 98.4 passer rating.
What Thompson-Robinson understands is that it's not just raw numbers that defines a good quarterback. That's why he talked about the performance in Kansas City as being not his cleanest.
"From day one, my biggest thing coming in was to be able to spit out play calls, make checks at the line, get a clean operation going, and I think today I felt a little short of that and it got us obviously in some bad spots," Thompson-Robinson said. "So I think just overall my play was just a little in need of some cleaning up on just the little details of it. But I think that'll improve as the week goes on."
The one thing Thompson-Robinson has in his favor is trust. The move by the Browns to part with someone who's been in the league as long as Dobbs, and who was serviceable in a reserve role a year ago, for the rookie speaks to the belief the front office and coaching staff have of him.
Within the room, there's no question the player he's backing up believes in Thompson-Robinson and what he can grow into in time.
“It is a good opportunity for him to continue to grow and build a bit more and have more responsibly," Watson said. "I am still there answering questions and coaching him as we go on. I think it is going to help me make sure if he has any questions, that he knows.
"It is a tough game. Sometimes injuries and stuff like that happens, knock on wood. You never know when you time is coming up to benefit the team.”