RGIII still not official starter

Jackson wants to see more of QB in practice before committing.

Browns coach Hue Jackson BEREA — insisted he’s not playing mind games with the Cincinnati Bengals by holding off on naming Robert Griffin III his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“I do need to see Robert go through the week,” Jackson said Wednesday. “It is not so much gamesmanship. We are talking about a young man that has not played much football this year. I need to be for sure about everything that could potentially go on. Before you stick him out there, you want to make sure you are putting guys in the right situation, give him the right opportunity.”

But Griffin is still likely to start after missing the past 11 games with a broken coracoid bone in his left shoulder suffered in the regular-season opener.

Griffin spoke Monday and Wednesday as if he expects to start, the second time while explaining his mentality about taking hits for the first time since he broke his non-throwing shoulder.

“No 350-pounders have landed on me yet, so it’s just something you’ve got to be ready for,” Griffin said. “Football’s a very physical game, and they’re not going to shy away from trying to hit me. I’ve just got to make sure I protect myself.

“I know my line’s going to protect, and that’s the goal is to not get the quarterback hit. We’re going to do things to try to be conducive to that, and I just can’t