Skip to content

Browns' Jackson considering benching Kizer: 'He has some work to do'

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson removed quarterback DeShone Kizer from the starting role in Week 6, and he could be contemplating doing so again.

Following Sunday's 27-10 loss to the division rival Baltimore Ravens that dropped the Browns to 0-14, Jackson admitted there's still a long way to go for his rookie signal-caller.

"He has some work to do,'' said Jackson, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I think that's a fair question if he'll ever get it. I think he will, but he has to keep working.''

Kizer has completed just 53.9 percent of 373 pass attempts for 2,252 yards, nine touchdowns, and 17 interceptions through 14 weeks, after being selected 52nd overall in the 2017 draft.

Jackson will do his due diligence to discern if there's a chance Kizer could be the quarterback for the present and future, or if Cleveland should opt to look elsewhere for help under center.

"Obviously, I'm going to watch the tape and make the best decision for our football team because we're still trying to win," Jackson said. "We're not here just trying to get through the season. I don't look at it like that and I'm not going to let our players look at it like that. We're trying to win. If the best decision is to move forward in a different direction, we will. At the same time, I want him to finish this if he can. We'll see."

Kizer showed some promise in Week 14 with the services of wide receivers Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon, but the Browns blew a large lead against the Green Bay Packers, with his 17th interception of the season coming early in overtime.

His league-leading sixth pick in the red zone came in Sunday's loss.

"That's one of the areas of the field where there have been some struggles, but there has also been some improvement. You want to keep it going that way. Today we took a step back," Jackson said.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox