Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas can readily admit his eye isn't quite as good as his memory.
Roughly a week after predicting veteran quarterback and off-season acquisition Brock Osweiler to be the team's Week 1 starter, rookie DeShone Kizer gets set to start the Browns' pivotal third preseason game Saturday - a strong indication he'll begin the regular season under center.
Osweiler isn't even expected to play in the game.
The franchise lineman admitted his mistake, stating he's certainly not the expert others would like him to be.
“Everyone always asks me about quarterback,” Thomas said, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN. “I always say, ‘I really don’t know anything about quarterbacks. And I proved it in this case.”
Related: Watch: Joe Thomas lists all 18 Browns QBs he's played with
Thomas' list was going to get longer either way, but he may want to start practicing a new mnemonic device for Kizer, who vows to end Cleveland's continuing circulating carousel of quarterbacks.
“There is a lot to show Joe Thomas,” Kizer said. “That guy has seen quite a few quarterbacks obviously. My ultimate goal is for him to not see another one. In order to do that, I have to continue to show him the type of worker that I am and how much time I am putting in off the field in my preparation and making sure that he can go out and get the wins that he absolutely deserves.”
Thomas was quick to throw his support behind the rookie, clarifying that his original prediction was not an evaluation of Kizer's skill set, more a statement on the enormity of the task that lies before him.
“Starting as a rookie in the NFL at any position is very challenging,” Thomas said. “The difference in speed and quickness and college is vast. But when you talk about a quarterback, that’s even more difficult because of the complexity of the position. It’s definitely the most difficult position to start when you’re a rookie.”
With Osweiler reportedly being shopped on the trade market, or possibly destined for the chopping block when roster sizes decrease, Thomas could end up being reunited with the familiar hands of Cody Kessler - who started eight games last season - should Kizer falter.
