Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was knocked from Sunday's game with a concussion, after absorbing a hit that was called roughing the passer but sent apoplectic Broncos fans to social media questioning the call.
In the second half in Denver, Thompson-Robinson scrambled before being leveled by Browns linebacker Baron Browning just as he released the football, and was ultimately sent into the concussion protocol and out of the game.
While an argument can be made that Browning hit Thompson-Robinson late, even the FOX broadcast crew questioned whether the play should have been flagged for roughing the passer.
Was this roughing the passer call correct or no? ?pic.twitter.com/rBbap0lJLL
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 26, 2023
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Ultimately, it didn't much matter whether the call was flagged or not, as the Broncos ran away with Sunday's game 29-12, but that didn't stop fans from vociferously booing the officials or questioning the call on social media.
P.J. Walker came on in relief of Thompson-Robinson, which effectively ended the Browns' chances of pulling off the upset.
Walker struggled mightily, losing a fumble, getting sacked for a safety, and finished the game just 6-of-13 passing for 56 yards, while being sacked once.
Thompson-Robinson's injury, combined with Walker's struggles once he was forced into action, casts some uncertainty over the Browns' quarterback situation in coming weeks. Cleveland signed former Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco on November 19, as an insurance policy on Thompson-Robinson and Walker following Deshaun Watson being lost for the season with a fractured throwing shoulder.
Now, with a game next week in Los Angeles against the Rams looming, Flacco could potentially be in line for his first start in a Browns uniform. Especially given that the Steelers' Sunday win over the Bengals ties Cincinnati with Cleveland at 7-4 in a suddenly tight AFC North Division race.
