BROWNS CAROUSEL BACK TO QB KIZER
The Browns’ quarterback roulette wheel has spun back to DeShone Kizer.
The rookie will start Sunday when Cleveland travels to London to play the Vikings. Browns coach Hue Jackson pulled Kizer in the second half of Sunday’s loss to Tennessee after the 21year-old threw interceptions on consecutive possessions bridging the second and third quarters.
Kizer has thrown a league-high 11 interceptions. Jackson benched Kizer at halftime of Cleveland’s Oct. 8 game against the Jets and started Kevin Hogan the following week at Houston. Kizer returned to the starting lineup last week, only to be yanked again.
The back and forth is nothing new to the Browns, who have changed QBs 20 times in the past 44 games and started 28 quarterbacks since 1999.
Jackson is just 1-22 in two seasons but insists he is not coaching for his job.
• Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett has been placed in concussion protocol.
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft reported to the team’s facility complaining of concussion-like symptoms Tuesday morning. Because of the timing, it’s unlikely he’ll play in Sunday’s game at London against the Vikings.
Garrett missed Cleveland’s first four games with a sprained right ankle.
Dolphins hurting.
Dolphins left guard Anthony Steen has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game against the Ravens because of a foot injury. Quarterback Jay Cutler was officially ruled out with cracked ribs. Left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is questionable because of a knee injury.
Receiver DeVante Parker is questionable because of an ankle injury but returned to practice this week and might play for the first time since Week 5.
Jaguars sign Smith to 4-year extension.
Jacksonville signed speedy linebacker Telvin Smith to a four-year contract extension, acknowledging that the defensive captain is an integral part of the team’s turnaround.
Smith leads the Jaguars with 58 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions. The fourth- year pro has been named AFC defensive player of the week three times.
Footnotes.
Lions kicker Matt Prater signed a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season. … A source with knowledge of the deal said the Chargers have agreed to trade receiver Dontrelle Inman to the Bears for a seventh-round pick. Inman has spent four seasons with the Chargers, catching 107 passes for 1,463 yards and seven touchdowns. … The Steelers have no plans to trade Martavis Bryant. They also apparently don’t have any plans to play him either. At least not in Detroit. Bryant indicated he’ll be inactive when the first-place Steelers visit the Lions on Sunday night, the fallout from a social media outburst in which the wide receiver made it clear he’s unhappy with his role in the offense. … Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly practiced in full pads and coach Ron Rivera says he’s on pace to play Sunday against the Buccaneers. Kuechly participated in all of practice but has not yet been cleared from the NFL concussion protocol, Rivera said.