Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) out vs. Ravens - ESPN

Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff WriterOct 1, 2023, 10:47 AM ET

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Jake Trotter covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011 covering college football. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him on Twitter @Jake_Trotter.

CLEVELAND -- Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens with a right shoulder injury.

Watson threw briefly on the field Sunday during pregame in front of Browns officials before the decision was made to make him inactive.

He suffered the injury while running the ball last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans and was limited in practice all week.

Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will get the start.

"I'm ready for it. Very confident in my preparation for the week," Thompson-Robinson told ESPN on Friday.

The Ravens are 22-7 (.759) against rookie quarterbacks under coach John Harbaugh, recording 34 interceptions and 82 sacks. This marks the 21st different Browns starting quarterback that the Ravens will have faced in 47 career meetings.

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA, became Watson's backup during the preseason after the Browns traded Joshua Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals.

Watson had his best game in a Browns uniform last weekend, completing 27 of 33 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 27-3 victory.

Browns tight end David Njoku, meanwhile, is active, despite suffering burns to his face and arm during a household accident. The injury occurred while Njoku was trying to light a fire pit Friday night. Njoku was added to the injury report as questionable after the incident.

He walked into Cleveland Browns Stadium wearing a mask covering his face.

Njoku has 10 catches for 92 yards. He is coming off a career year in 2022 with 58 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.