Usually, having the starting quarterback of your team get injured is devastating, but somehow, the Browns are looking better after Deshaun Watson got knocked out with a season-ending Achilles injury.

The Cleveland Browns are currently last in the AFC North with a record of 2-7 and are on pace to miss the playoffs yet again, but with some stroke of luck, the quarterback who has not done anything to help the team on or off the field got injured and is now out for the year. Even crazier, 30-year-old Jameis Winston has proven that he can still play ball. Winston carried the Browns in a crazy game to upset the dominant Ravens 29-24, with 334 total yards and 3 touchdowns.

But the Browns are in even more trouble following an upsetting loss to the Chargers 27-10, as they have just traded one of their main anchors on defense, Za’Darius Smith, and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to the Lions for a 2025 fifth-round pick and 2026 sixth-round draft pick. The Browns D Line was very good before this questionable trade, with Myles Garret on one side and Za’Darius Smith on the other. This was one of the best parts of this team going into this season.

The Browns also got rid of WR 1 Amari Cooper, and now there are even fewer weapons on this offense. This is also forcing Jerry Juedy to step up and be a key factor in the passing game. Yes, Nick Chubb has come back, and he’s doing solid, but once Cleveland’s opponents can shut that down, they will have limited options.

Hopefully, Jameis Winston can continue to play well and limit the interceptions, and that will lead to more success for the Browns in the upcoming weeks.