Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer knows Hue Jackson is “completely riding with me still,” but that doesn’t make his benching any easier.
Kizer will sit as Kevin Hogan becomes the team’s 28th starting quarterback since 1999. But Kizer doesn’t plan on standing for Jackson’s decision for long.
“I don’t play this game to sit on the bench, so now it’s about accepting this as a challenge and doing whatever I can to get back out there and once again be the best quarterback and the best version of myself I can be when I do get back out there,’' Kizer said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Kizer has an 0-5 record, completing only 50.9 percent of his passes for 851 yards, three touchdowns, a league-leading nine interceptions and a 49.5 passer rating.
Jackson’s decision was based, at least in part, on Kizer’s inexperience being able to carry a sub-par receiving corps. That didn’t help him stomach it.
“Nothing makes this easier,’' Kizer said. “I’m a competitor. I want to be out there playing. When I came out here and got drafted here, my ultimate goal was to be the starting quarterback for every opportunity that I could and I came a little short of that this week and I’m going to do whatever I can to get right back on the path that I was on.’'
The Browns passed on Carson Wentz last year. They passed on Deshaun Watson this year. Kizer is their future -- at least for now.