Kizer’s start clouds Osweiler’s status
With Wednesday’s news that he won’t start Saturday’s Week 3 preseason game, a contest that typically serves as a dress rehearsal for a team’s starters, quarterback Brock Osweiler’s future with the Cleveland Browns is now in some doubt.
Rookie DeShone Kizer will start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and an ESPN report indicated Osweiler won’t even play, though coach Hue Jackson didn’t make any commitment to Kizer as the permanent starter beyond this weekend.
Jackson did say in a statement that Kizer “is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season.”
When asked what he thought he would need to do to win the starting job, Osweiler said, “You know, I think that’s a great question for our general manager.”
The Browns don’t have an official general manager in their organizational structure, but executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown serves in that capacity. It’s interesting to note that Osweiler didn’t mention Jackson’s role in determining his future.
Still, Osweiler thinks he has a chance to win the job.
“Until we have an official Day 1 starter, I think I have a great opportunity here,” Osweiler said. “Like I’ve told you guys all along, I love being a Cleveland Brown. I think this is a great organization.
“As far as I know, it’s still wide open, but I’m given the same information you guys are.”
Osweiler would not confirm whether Jackson indicated if he would play Saturday. Sitting him could signal that Cleveland is attempting to trade him and does not want to risk an injury, especially with the backup offensive line protecting him.
The Browns acquired Osweiler in a trade this offseason that was essentially a salary-dump deal more commonly seen in the NBA. Cleveland received the Houston Texans’ 2018 second-rounder in return.
There has been speculation that the Browns tried to prop up Osweiler’s value throughout the offseason by giving him starter’s reps in an attempt to generate interest from other teams. But finding a trade partner willing to take on even part of his $16 million salary will be a challenge.
Osweiler said he felt everyone had a “fair shot” to win the starting job and had “absolutely no regret on anything that I’ve done and I have left it all out on the table.”
He has been uneven in two preseason starts, however, completing 12 of 22 passes for 67 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
“I don’t think there’s anything else that I need to do (to win the starting job),” Osweiler added. “They know the quarterback and the teammate that I am.”
Kizer, on the other hand, has shown he still has a steep learning curve but has flashed arm strength and playmaking ability. He has completed 19 of 31 attempts for 258 yards and one touchdown with no picks but has taken five sacks. He has also carried the ball eight times for 47 yards and has a rushing score.
“This is awesome,” Kizer said of his upcoming start. “Obviously another step in this process that we’ve been talking about the last couple of months now.
“I obviously know there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with starting a game, as far as preparation goes throughout the week and the responsibilities that happen off the field in representing this team the right way. As awesome as it is, I just have to work harder to do everything I can to continue to have success on the field.”