Daily Dawg Tags: DeShone Kizer keeps plugging along

Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer has had a rough start to his rookie season, but he just keeps rolling with the punches.

Spend more than a series or two watching the Cleveland Browns on offense and even the most casual fan can see the team has a problem.

Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer is just not very good right now.

There are a few things to like about Kizer. He has a big arm and his multiple benchings don’t seem to have worn him down and … well … that’s about it.

By just about every measurable stat Kizer is at the bottom of the league as he head’s into Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions ranked:

• 32nd in completion percentage (52.1)
• 32nd in yards per attempt (5.37)
• Tied for 34th in touchdown passes (3)
• Tied for first in interceptions (11)
• 33rd in quarterback rating (51.1)

It’s not all Kizer’s fault, of course, as it can be difficult playing quarterback behind one of the league’s better offensive lines. His offensive coordinator has also not done Kizer any favors as the Browns continue to underuse tight end David Njoku and running back Duke Johnson, two players that seem to make something happen when they get their hands on the ball.

Head coach Hue Jackson didn’t help the situation during the bye week, either, as he went directly to owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam in an inexplicable attempt to force a trade for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron, a move that Jackson basically told Kizer to shrug off.

To his credit Kizer said he wasn’t taking it personally that his head coach desperately wanted a quarterback that hasn’t taken a snap in a game that mattered since 2015 instead of the rookie that he vowed to support through thick and thin.

That may not turn into better results on the field, but Kizer taking the trade news as a challenge, rather than sulking about it, does make it easy to root for him and is a sign that, if nothing else, he appears to have the mental toughness to survive playing quarterback for the Browns.

How far that can take Kizer remains to be seen, however.

Cleveland Browns news:

Browns release Ibraheim Campbell

The Cleveland Browns continue to rework the bottom of the roster after replacing safety Ibraheim Campbell with defensive back Derron Smith.

Hue Jackson challenges Browns to fight in the second half (clevelandbrowns.com)

The Browns hope their bye week left them recharged, refocused and ready for the second half of what’s been a challenging season. Cleveland coach Hue Jackson’s message to a young team that’s struggled with self-inflicted wounds and missed opportunities was simple.

Jabrill Peppers playing out of position but refuses to use it as excuse (ohio.com)

"When Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” blared over the loudspeakers, Browns rookie safety Jabrill Peppers paid tribute to the late King of Pop by executing a leg kick. Peppers clearly had pep in his step as he danced early in Thursday’s practice. He’s invigorated by improved health — he missed the past two games with a toe injury — and an opportunity to play Sunday in Detroit — he starred nearby at the University of Michigan."

Dino Babers’ disciple Josh Gordon is back on right path (Inside the Loud House)

"Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers once coached troubled NFL superstar Josh Gordon. ITLH breaks down the most recent news on the mercurial star."

NFL news:

What key stats say about NFL season’s second-half expectations (ESPN)

"Nine weeks can tell us a lot about the NFL season. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but nine weeks were enough for us to take Jared Goff for real as a franchise quarterback. They were enough to convince us that the Jaguars had a defense capable of getting into the heads of Ben Roethlisberger and A.J. Green. They were even enough to turn the Giants into a cautionary tale against believing in teams that forgot about fielding offensive lines."

Ezekiel Elliott suspension back; court denies injunction (NFL.com)

"The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday denied Ezekiel Elliott’s and the NFL Players Association’s request for an injunction pending appeal in Elliott’s case. The Cowboys running back is set to begin serving his six-game suspension Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported."

Richard Sherman out for the season after rupturing Achilles (Seattle Times)

"Add one more to the deluge of injuries Thursday night: Richard Sherman, who left the Seahawks’ game against the Cardinals after falling down while covering Arizona receiver John Brown. Coach Pete Carroll said after the game Sherman had likely ruptured his Achilles and that he would miss the remainder the season."

The Vontae Davis story just keeps getting weirder (indystar.com)

"Maybe Vontae Davis needs surgery on his groin. Maybe he doesn’t. That’s a mystery for another day, because on this day we have two doctors giving two different opinions – and we have the Indianapolis Colts releasing the player in the middle of it all."