The Browns are expected to name their starting quarterback on Wednesday, as head coach Hue Jackson announced to reporters following the conclusion of Cleveland’s preseason game on Monday night.
“I need to watch the tape and honestly answer [who will start], but I have an idea in my mind based on what I felt and what I saw from our football team,” said Jackson. “We will just kind of go from there.”
The club’s competition appears to be between Brock Osweiler, whom the Browns acquired from the Texans earlier this year, and second-round rookie DeShone Kizer. Jackson reportedly questioned Cleveland veterans as to who should earn the starting job, and the majority of players chose Osweiler, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cody Kessler, who started eight games as a rookie in 2016, doesn’t appear to be in the running for the starting role, as he didn’t enter last night’s contest until the third quarter was nearly finished.
While Osweiler may have the support of the Browns’ locker room, Kizer has clearly been the better passer through two preseason games. According to Pro Football Focus (Twitter link), Kizer leads Osweiler in adjusted completion percentage (74.1% vs. 60%), passer rating against pressure (109.5 vs. 39.6), and average depth of throw (10.2 vs. 7.7). Still, Cleveland quarterbacks coach David Lee said earlier this month that Kizer is “still not there,” an indication the Notre Dame product may need more seasoning before playing in the regular season.
Otto Graham….?
Kizer’s #s aren’t the same as starter minutes. He’s gone against 2s and 3s so far. Go with the veteran. Kizer can learn behind The veteran.
Kizer was going against the 1 d last night.
Not a Browns fan, but seriously why not Kessler? He showed good stuff last year.
Because the Browns are not that smart.
Hard to figure. May be a durability issue, lingering effects of all the shots he took last year. Or perhaps and unfortunately, as much as it pains a Trojan to admit, he’s what he looked like coming out of school: better suited as a backup.
Can we all just take a moment to look at the Browns inability to draft .. Seriously the took Kessler over Dak cmon Browns smh