Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson smart to stick with Cody Kessler

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler will be the starting quarterback this Sunday as he returns from the concussion protocol.

The Cleveland Browns may be winless at the halfway point of the season, but Hue Jackson is not allowing the season to become a total farce. He has his players working hard and still believing they can be successful, which is something not seen in the recent past.

The Browns will continue the quest for success this Sunday with Cody Kessler as the starting quarterback, returning after leaving the game two weeks ago with a concussion.

Kessler will be replacing Josh McCown, who had the Browns up 20-7 at halftime last Sunday over the New York Jets. It seemed like a win was finally within reach, until the offense stalled until the very end of the fourth quarter.

Fans love McCown for his toughness and the way he is able to get the offense running smoothly, but he has never been able to win too many games throughout his career. He has only won one game as a member of the Browns, so while he may be able to give the impression that he can lead this team to several wins, it may be nothing more than false hope.

Allowing Kessler to start gives the team a chance to see how the young quarterback can progress over the final eight games of the season. With the Browns being set to have one of the first three picks in the draft, the front office will need to decide on Kessler’s role for this team in 2017 based on how he plays during the second half of the season.

The Browns will surely be in a position to draft a quarterback once again, but Kessler may prove he deserves another year in the starting role. And with the countless other positions in need of improvement, it may be too soon to bring another rookie quarterback in and expect him to turn this team around.

Kessler has been able to do well in his limited time as starter, and should have won his NFL debut in Week 3 if not for a missed field goal at the end of regulation. He has improved his numbers each week, and can use the playing time much more than McCown, who is at the end of his career.

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But with the way the season has gone so far, McCown may see action sooner than later if the offensive line continues to allow big hits on the quarterback.