The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Osweiler gets nod against Giants
Jackson also wants to see more of Kizer in second preseason game
Brock Osweiler will start at quarterback against the Giants on Aug. 21 in the second preseason game, but he still hasn’t locked up the starting job for the regular season, Browns coach Hue Jackson announced on Aug. 16.
Rookie DeShone Kizer will follow Osweiler and might end up getting more playing
time than Osweiler, who also started the preseason opener vs. the Saints. Cody Kessler will follow Kizer, Jackson said. Kevin Hogan will finish the game at quarterback.
“It doesn’t mean anything for the regular season,” Jackson said. “This is this game. (Osweiler) will walk out first. (His playing time) could decrease. I want to see these young guys play quite a bit. That’s why I’m putting (Kizer) out there second.”
Osweiler played four series against the Saints. Kessler entered the game with 8:02 left in the first half.
Kizer played the second half and completed 11 of 18 passes for 184 yards. He threw the winning touchdown pass 45 yards to Jordan Payton with 1:52 remaining against the Saints backups.
“I still think right now where we are that Brock deserves the opportunity to walk out there first,” Jackson said. “I think seeing DeShone, again last week — it was in the second half. I want to see him now in the first half, and see what he can do there. I’ll give him an opportunity there to showcase his talent and ability, and then we’ll put Cody in and go from there.”
Earlier in the day, Browns All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas said Osweiler should start the season opener against the Steelers on Sept. 10.
“I could be totally wrong. I might be going out on a limb here, but I think they’re grooming Brock to be the starter in Week 1 based on what I’ve seen,” Thomas said. “To be honest, I don’t think DeShone will be the starter in Week 1. It is a competition, but I would expect Brock to win because of his experience.
“A rookie quarterback is the hardest position to get ready to play in your first year. There’s no doubt he could win it. I definitely expect Brock to win it just because, like I said, my personal philosophy is it takes at least two or three years to have a basic level of NFL defenses and offenses to be able to operate proficiently out there on the field, especially in Week One. That would be asking a lot.”
Jackson said he expects to name his starter for the season opener before the third preseason game. He appreciates Thomas’ input, but he made it clear he has the final word.
“I think our players all have opinions,” Jackson said.” Joe is here every day and sees what’s going on. That’s good that he feels that way. That means Brock is doing some good things in the locker room and on the field. But at the same time, I think Joe knows that I get to make that decision. “I do talk to our players because I think it’s important. Our players know exactly what I’m thinking all the time, but we’ll see how it all unfolds. There’s a chance that could happen, and there’s a chance that couldn’t happen. We’re just going to work through it and keep going.”
Whoever wins the starting job will be the 27th starting quarterback for the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999.