Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas believes that the team is preparing Brock Osweiler to be its starting quarterback in their Week 1 showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Thomas said the Browns are grooming Osweiler to be the starter under center against the Steelers, adding that he didn’t expect rookie Deshone Kizer to be the starter anytime soon. “Just because DeShone (Kizer) might be good in a few years doesn't mean he's ready now,” said Thomas, considered by the Browns as the franchise’s most important player and they sometimes consult him on team matters.
Browns coach Hue Jackson announced that Osweiler will start against the New York Giants Monday while Kizer will get the No. 2 reps. Last year’s starter Cody Kessler will take the third quarterback spot. In their 20-14 preaseason win over the New Orleans Saints, Kizer made his case for the starting quarterback spot, going 11-of-18 for 184 yards and a touchdown. Osweiler, who completed just six of 14 passes for 42 yards, must improve his numbers to pull away from the competition for the starting job.
Kizer could start if he continues to shine
However, if Kizer continues to improve, Jackson will be put in the spot of choosing him as starter rather than go with the more experienced Osweiler, who started 14 games for the Houston Texans last season.
After a four-year stint with the Denver Broncos as backup to Peyton Manning, Osweiler signed a four-year, $72 million deal last season with the Texans. However, he failed to live up to his billing, completing just 59 percent of his passes for 2,957 yards with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. In the offseason, the Texans shipped Osweiler to the Browns for a 2017 fourth-round pick and $16 million in cash.
The Browns were expected to trade or release Osweiler but ultimately deciding on making him part of the quarterback competition.
No. 1 pick Myles Garrett impresses Browns
In his 28th season coaching in the NFL, Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said he has never seen a rookie transition to the NFL brand of play as fast as 2017 No.
1 overall pick Myles Garrett. Williams said he has worked with several high draft picks but he has never seen one who jumped out and fit faster than Garrett, a known pass rusher. According to Williams, he loves Garrett’s attitude, especially during locker-room interactions with teammates and how the way he handled being down in the depth chart. Garrett took it as a challenge, rising quickly from starting third during camp to the first-team unit.
