Who Should I Start? Jameis Winston or Nick Mullens

Friday, December 20, 3:08 PM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (shoulder) is considered questionable to suit up on Sunday to face the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. Winston was benched in the Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after uncorking three more interceptions and is now dealing with a sore right shoulder. The Browns announced earlier this week that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start this weekend against the Bengals, so if Winston is available, he'll serve as the backup. If he doesn't get the green light, former New England Patriots QB Bailey Zappe would be DTR's backup. The 30-year-old Winston initially gave the offense a jolt when Deshaun Watson (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury, but in the end, his turnover-prone ways were too much to overcome. With Winston heading into free agency after the season, this will be DTR's show in the final three games.

Thursday, August 15, 9:45 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.