### Browns Shift Play-Calling Duties Amid Season Woes

The Cleveland Browns are making a significant change in their coaching strategy amidst a tough five-game losing streak. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has decided to hand over the play-calling responsibilities to first-year offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. This announcement was made on Wednesday, just before the team’s first practice session with Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback.

The Browns are dealing with a major setback as their quarterback, Deshaun Watson, will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The loss of Watson forced the Browns to make these urgent adjustments.

Ken Dorsey, who was previously fired last November by the Buffalo Bills as their offensive coordinator and play-caller, was hired by the Browns this season. Although it was widely speculated that Dorsey would handle play-calling duties, Stefanski announced in July that he would retain that responsibility himself.

Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, has been predominantly successful since his tenure began in 2020, with the exception of last season's challenges. He relinquished play-calling duties only once before, during the wild-card game after the 2020 season, when COVID-19 protocols sidelined him. During that game, play-calling was managed by then-offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was with the team for four seasons before being fired last January.

The recent move to switch play-callers feels like a desperate measure but perhaps a necessary one given the current season’s dire situation. Though Stefanski claimed the decision was entirely his own, the fact that he had previously resisted giving up play-calling makes this development intriguing. "To improve, this is the right move for right now," Stefanski stated.

Currently, the Browns stand at 1-6 and are the only NFL team yet to score 20 points or reach 300 yards in a game this season. These statistics underscore the magnitude of the struggles they are facing. Whether this change will revitalize their season remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Browns are eager for innovation to halt their current slump.