Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler and the debuts of rookie QBs
By Thomas Moore
Tim Couch: Sept. 19, 1999, vs. Tennessee Titans
Tim Couch, who the Browns selected with the first overall selection of the 1999 NFL Draft, made his first start in Week 2 of that season.
The Browns fell behind early as Couch was tackled for a safety in the first quarter and Cleveland went into the half trailing the Titans, 16-3.
Couch teamed up with wide receiver Kevin Johnson for a 39-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, the first touchdown of the season for the Browns. It was the only time that Cleveland would find the end zone that day as they lost to the Titans by a final score of 26-9.
Couch finished the game 12-of-24 for 134 yards and a touchdown pass, but was sacked seven times and only led the Browns to 173 yards of total offense.
Spergon Wynn: Dec. 3, 2000, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Browns lost Tim Couch to a thumb injury in the middle of October, forcing the team to juggle quarterbacks Doug Pederson and rookie Spergon Wynn in and out of the lineup for the rest of the season.
Following a 44-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that dropped Cleveland record to 3-10, the Browns turned to Wynn as the starter on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The day turned into a historic disaster for the Browns, as Wynn led the offense to just 53 total yards and a franchise-record minus-nine yards of passing. Wynn finished the day five-of-16 for 17 yards, helping to explain how the offense only achieved two first downs and never crossed midfield during the 48-0 loss.
Luke McCown: Dec. 5, 2004, vs. New England Patriots
It would be four years before injuries forced the Browns to turn to another rookie quarterback.
A week after losing quarterback Kelly Holcomb to injury and seeing head coach Butch Davis quit after having a panic attack, the Browns turned to Luke McCown, the team’s fourth-round draft pick that season brother of current Browns quarterback Josh McCown.
Even though the Browns lost to the New England Patriots that day, 42-15, McCown actually had a decent game, finishing 20-of-34 for 277 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Antonio Bryant.
McCown had two of Cleveland’s four turnovers, however, and the running game only added 46 yards to the effort, while the defense allowed 200 rushing yards to the Patriots.