Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson announced DeShone Kizer will get the start at quarterback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.
Jackson said he informed the team’s quarterbacks on Wednesday morning the former Notre Dame quarterback would start the Browns third exhibition game.
In the Browns' first two exhibition games, Kizer passed for 258 yards and one touchdown and rushed 47 yards and one touchdown.
"(Kizer) has made a lot of progress by investing the time necessary to learn or offense, working hard to improve on his fundamentals while also effectively moving the offense in preseason games,” Jackson said in a statement. “Development is so important for young quarterback, this is the next step he needs to take and he deserves this opportunity. We are excited about seeing DeShone in the role of starter for this week, as he is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season."
If Kizer, who was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, earns the regular season start, he will be the Browns’ 19th starting quarterback since 2007.
In his statement, Jackson also said quarterbacks Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan have wroked hard, pushed each other and created a supportive environment among the Browns quarterbacks.
After winning one game last season, the Browns won their exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints 20-14 and against the New York Giants 10-6.
The Browns play the Buccaneers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
About the Author
