Browns starting QB Jameis Winston vs. Ravens, sources confirm

Jameis Winston will start at center for the injury-plagued Cleveland Browns on Sunday, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin.

Winston was promoted to the starting lineup after Cleveland’s top two quarterbacks – Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson – both suffered injuries in last Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters earlier this week that he would not decide on a starting quarterback until he received a medical update on Thompson-Robinson, who injured a finger on his throwing hand after replacing Watson.

Winston, a 10-year veteran, gives Cleveland a more experienced option than Thompson-Robinson for Sunday’s game against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. The former Heisman Trophy winner said Sunday that he is “prepared for whatever role” the Browns have in store for him.

“That’s been the story of my career over the last few years,” Winston said. “I am ready and prepared for whatever role I will play. I am here to serve.”

Fox Sports first reported Tuesday that Winston would start for the Browns, who are once again facing uncertainty over the quarterback position following Watson’s season-ending Achilles tendon injury.

Winston replaced Thompson-Robinson on Cleveland’s final series Sunday and orchestrated a 12-play drive that was punctuated by his touchdown pass to David Njoku. He has started 80 NFL games since being selected No. 1 in the 2015 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Browns (1-6) have not scored 20 points in any of their seven games to start the season, their longest such scoring drought in 15 years.

ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.