CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ ever-changing quarterback situation is in motion again.

With starter Deshaun Watson out for the season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson dealing with a finger injury on his throwing hand, Cleveland signed QB Bailey Zappe off Kansas City’s practice squad on Tuesday.

The team also placed Watson on injured reserve, a procedural but necessary move for the Browns, who have lost five straight in what has quickly gone from a promising season to a problematic one.

Watson is scheduled to have surgery this week after rupturing the tendon on a draw play in Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals. It’s the second straight season he has suffered a major injury. He broke his right shoulder after six starts a year ago.

Watson’s injury late in the first half was followed by some Browns fans cheering when the QB went down, a reaction that incensed many of his teammates.

He was replaced by Thompson-Robinson, who hurt a finger on his throwing hand in the second half and had to be replaced by Jameis Winston. It was the first time this season Thompson-Robinson was Watson’s backup.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday he was awaiting more medical information on Thompson-Robinson, who completed 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions before getting hurt.

For the time being, Zappe gives the Browns some protection behind Thompson-Robinson and Winston, who could start this week against Baltimore.

Zappe started eight games for New England over the past two seasons, going 4-4. The 25-year-old signed with the Chiefs after being released by the Patriots this summer.

He had his best game against the Browns, completing 24 of 34 passes for 309 yards in a 38-15 win in 2022.

Watson’s career in Cleveland is at another crossroads. The Browns signed him to a $230 million contract in 2022 and he’s scheduled to make $46 million in each of the next two seasons.

But Watson hasn’t lived up to his contract or expectations.

HALL OF FAME: Versatile running back Roger Craig, former MVP Ken Anderson and prolific receiver Sterling Sharpe are among the players who advanced to the next stage in the seniors category for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Hall released a list of 31 players cut down from 60 nominees made last month by a newly created Seniors Screening Committee.

A nine-person Senior Blue Ribbon Committee will be reducing the list to nine in a few weeks and then will nominate three finalists to be considered by the full selection committee in early 2025. The three seniors will be grouped with one coach and one contributor, with at least one and no more than three of those finalists getting in based on voting.

Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin is carted off the field with an air cast during Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens in Tampa, Fla. Peter Joneleit/Associated Press

BUCS: Mike Evans got his 100th career touchdown reception in Monday night’s 41-31 loss to the Ravens. But it will be at least a month before he visits the end zone again.

Evans aggravated a hamstring injury and will miss the next three games. He is not expected to return until after the bye week when the Bucs visit the Giants on Nov. 24.

“He tweaked it pretty good,” Coach Todd Bowles said. “… It’s moderate, but it’s hurting pretty good right now, so we’ll probably see him after the bye week, hopefully.”

Bucs receiver Chris Godwin also dislocated his ankle toward the end of the game and will be lost for the remainder of the regular season.

“He will be undergoing surgery very soon and probably will be out for the year,” Bowles said. “There’s a chance, if we make a late playoff run, he could be back.”

Bowles said the Bucs are considering all opportunities to add a receiver, but said it was unlikely they would acquire one via trade.

The coach said he is hoping to have young receivers such as rookie Jalen McMillan and second-year pros Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett step up when given the opportunity.

“We’re not going to ask them to be Mike and Chris,” Bowles said. “We know what they were when they made this team. We’re going to ask them to do the things that they can do. We’re going to specialize in their talents and make them play fast and make them play hard and then we’ll be OK.”

Bowles admitted the Bucs may have to lean more heavily on their running backs after losing their top two receivers. Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker helped the Bucs rush for 125 yards and a touchdown Monday.

“Those three guys are going to play a significant part of the offense,” Bowles said. “We’re going to have to be a little more creative in the way we do things. Maybe it’s one, maybe it’s two, maybe we use all three at the time.”

Bowles said the Bucs looked at options and acquiring players but didn’t feel comfortable pulling the trigger.

“We’ve looked outside the building but to get a true No. 1 in here, you got to make some massive trades and give up quite a bit. That’s not where we are at this point,” he said. “We feel comfortable with the guys in the building. …

“We’ve got as short week; we’ve got to get ready to play Atlanta. We’re still playing for first place in the division. A lot of football left to be played. We’ve got to clean up some things and be ready.”

49ERS: Star receiver Deebo Samuel has been released from the hospital after being treated for a bout of pneumonia.

A person with knowledge of the situation said Samuel was sent home after going to the hospital Sunday night following San Francisco’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t disclosed it.

Samuel reported being sick on Sunday morning but tried to play. He lasted four snaps before coming out for good. Doctors determined he had fluid in his lungs, and he went to the hospital to be treated for symptoms of pneumonia.

The 49ers return to practice on Wednesday before hosting Dallas on Sunday night. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday he was uncertain whether Samuel will be healthy enough to play.

San Francisco is already short-handed at receiver after Brandon Aiyuk tore his right ACL and MCL on Sunday and will be sidelined for the season. No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings also missed the previous game because of a hip injury and his status is in doubt this week, leaving rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, and little-used veterans Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell as the only healthy options on the active roster.

Samuel is a key part to San Francisco’s offense thanks to his versatility as a pass catcher and a runner. He has 20 catches for 335 yards, along 51 yards rushing this season. He has scored on a catch and a run and is the only wide receiver in NFL history with at least 20 TD catches and at least 20 TD runs in a career.

COMMANDERS: Jamin Davis was released, ending his stint with Washington that began with him being the team’s first-round pick in 2021.

Davis, selected 19th in the draft three years ago with the aim of being a middle linebacker, was moved outside early in his career by the previous coaching staff led by Ron Rivera. The new regime led by GM Adam Peters and Coach Dan Quinn had attempted to revitalize Davis by shifting him to defensive end.

But Davis was a healthy scratch a couple of times and got on the field for just under 21% of the defensive snaps this season, making 13 tackles in five games. His release leaves cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the 16th overall pick in ’23, as the only first-rounder left from the four drafts of Rivera’s time in charge.

PANTHERS: Quarterback Andy Dalton and his family were involved in a car crash. The 36-year-old was being evaluated by team medical personnel, a Panthers spokesman said.

No one from Dalton’s family needed to be taken to a hospital.

Dalton, his wife, three children and the family dog were traveling near downtown Charlotte westbound on Sardis Road approaching Providence Road when the crash occurred, the spokesman said.

The team would not say if there was another car involved. The team said no more further details were available.

Dalton took over the Panthers’ starting job in Week 3 from Bryce Young. The team is 1-4 in those games and 1-6 overall.