Kizer received praise from Browns general manager John Dorsey for improving over the final month of his rookie season, Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "What I thought was really nice was how much he improved week in and week out," Dorsey said. "And like I've always told you guys, I think a young quarterback from year one going through his rookie year, into year two, he makes exponential improvement moving forward and I would expect nothing less from him."

Analysis: The Browns aren't necessarily ready to give up on Kizer, but they also don't want to be in the position of depending on him as a starter. It'll be a surprise if Cleveland doesn't use one of its two first-round picks on a quarterback, and there also are rumors that head coach Hue Jackson is still pushing for a reunion with impending free agent AJ McCarron. Kizer's best-case scenario is a quarterback competition in which he's the underdog, while the worst-case scenario would leave him as a clear…read more

Kizer completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 314 yards, two touchdowns and one interception Sunday against the Steelers. He also carried six times for 61 yards in the 28-24 loss.

Analysis: Kizer put on a career effort as Cleveland attempted to avoid a winless season, posting career highs in both passing and rushing yardage. Most of his damage through the air came on big plays, as he completed four passes of at least 30 yards on the day, including two of at least 54. Kizer struggled at times during his rookie campaign, finishing with a putrid 11:28 touchdown-turnover ratio, but he also flashed significant upside at times. Adding to his stock as a potential fantasy asset in the…read more

Kizer completed 18 of 36 passes for 182 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Bears. He also gained eight yards on three rushes.

Analysis: The rookie's turnover issues continued, as he was picked off by Kyle Fuller at the Bears' five-yard line just before the two-minute warning in the first half and victimized a second time by Bryce Callahan with 4:21 remaining at Chicago's 37. Kizer averaged an unsightly 5.1 yards per attempt and threw multiple interceptions for the third consecutive game. Given his ongoing struggles, it remains to be seen if he'll have an opportunity to start the regular-season finale against the Steelers in…read more

Won't be benched

Kizer will start Sunday's game in Chicago, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Browns head coach Hue Jackson sounded like he was considering a change in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Ravens, but he'll apparently give Kizer a shot to redeem himself against a respectable Bears defense that ranks 17th in yards allowed per pass attempt (7.1). With the possibility of a winless season staring the Browns in the face, Jackson presumably is sticking with Kizer because he doesn't think Kevin Hogan or Cody Kessler would give the team a better shot to win.…read more

May get benched

Browns head coach Hue Jackson hinted that Kizer won't necessarily start Week 16 against the Bears, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "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. 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 [Kizer] to finish this if he can."

Analysis: Jackson has given Kizer a long leash in the latter half of the season, perhaps hoping to see if the rookie would look better with Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman in the lineup. Kizer did show some promise Weeks 12-14, but he then had zero touchdowns and three turnovers in Sunday's ugly 27-10 loss to the Ravens. With the prospect of an 0-16 season on the horizon, Jackson seems to be thinking about making a change at quarterback for Week 16 in Chicago. Kevin Hogan has been serving as Kizer's…read more

Kizer completed 20 of 37 passes for 146 yards with two interceptions and a fumble during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Ravens. He also added seven rushes for 35 yards.

Analysis: Once again, the rookie signal-caller failed to impress his new general manager John Dorsey, and the notion that the Browns will use its likely No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback in next year's draft continues to grow stronger amidst Kizer's repeated struggles. The only touchdown by Cleveland on the day was set up by a long run by Isaiah Crowell, with Duke Johnson ultimately running in for a score. Other than that, though, Kizer failed to consistently move the ball, with the Browns finishing…read more

Kizer completed 20 of 28 passes for 214 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, adding two carries for seven yards, in Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the Packers.

Analysis: Kizer led long marches that culminated with touchdown passes on two of Cleveland's first three drives, but he struggled thereafter and eventually threw a terrible interception in overtime to essentially hand Green Bay the game. While he still finished with three passing scores for the first time in his career, Kizer ultimately didn't help his post-2017 cause. Head coach Hue Jackson recently acknowledged the possibility that Cleveland uses its first-round pick on a signal caller, though he also…read more

Browns head coach Hue Jackson acknowledged that the team may use its first-round pick in the 2018 draft on a quarterback, but he also said that Kizer still has a shot to be the franchise's future at the position, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Analysis: Kizer has shown signs of improvement the last five games, cutting down on turnovers while making some big plays with both his arm and his feet. He still completed less than 60 percent of his passes in each of those games, bottoming out at 46.9 percent in Sunday's 19-10 loss to the Chargers despite having both Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman at his disposal. Kizer hasn't done nearly enough to dissuade the Browns from bringing in another quarterback, but he can at least use the final four weeks of…read more

Kizer completed 15 of 32 passes for 215 touchdowns with a touchdown, a lost fumble and an interception during Sunday's 19-10 loss to the Chargers. He also rushed for a team-high 46 yards on five carries.

Analysis: At times throughout Sunday's contest, Kizer looked the future at quarterback for the Browns. He completed passes of 25 or more yards to three different receivers, including a 28-yard touchdown connection to David Njoku that gave Cleveland a short-lived lead. However, when it came down to crunch time, Kizer reverted back to his rookie ways, losing a fumble and throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter on consecutive drives. And once again, he failed to complete 50 percent of his…read more

Kizer completed 18 of 31 passes for a career-high 268 yards during Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Bengals. He also rushed nine times for 39 yards and a score.

Analysis: Though Kizer failed to connect on a touchdown pass Sunday, he finished with a career high in passing yards, rushed for his fifth score and didn't turn the ball over -- something that has plagued the rookie throughout 2017. His passer rating of 86.5 was also a career best, as Kizer displayed accuracy he typically hasn't shown during his brief tenure in the NFL. The 21-year-old's best completion of the day came on a throw off his back foot to Corey Coleman down the right side of the field for a…read more

Kizer is returning to Sunday's game after being evaluated for a concussion.

Analysis: Kizer exited Sunday's game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion, but he's now returned after missing just over five minutes of game time. He'll be expected to finish out the game under center, barring further injury.

Kizer exited Sunday's game against the Bengals to be evaluated for a concussion.

Analysis: Kizer entered the locker room early in the second quarter after taking several hits to start the game. Cody Kessler will fill in for the rest of the game if Kizer is unable to return.

Not expected to lose job this year

Browns head coach Hue Jackson said following Sunday's 19-7 loss to the Jaguars that Kizer would likely start for the rest of the season, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. "Where we are right now, I need to continue to see him,'' Jackson said of the rookie quarterback. "Let's let him play. Let's let him play this thing out. As long as he's healthy, let's keep putting him out there. I want to walk away from this season knowing exactly what DeShone Kizer is top to bottom. He deserves that."

Analysis: Kizer committed four turnovers in Sunday's loss, but Jackson didn't hesitate to commit to the rookie as his starter for Week 12 against the Bengals. The coach's comments further suggest that Kizer will start beyond Week 12, though it's possible Jackson changes his mind if there aren't signs of progress in the coming weeks. The only real positive from the Week 11 loss was wideout Corey Coleman (hand), who returned from injured reserve to catch six of 11 targets for 80 yards. With Josh Gordon…read more

Kizer completed 16 of 32 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions during Sunday's 19-7 loss to the Jaguars. Additionally, he tacked on five carries for 22 yards.

Analysis: Kizer continues to be uninspiring as the Browns' starting quarterback, even with Corey Coleman at his disposal for the first time since Week 1. In nine appearances this season, Kizer has failed to reach 200 yards in six of them while tacking on two more picks to settle at an NFL-worst 14. Despite the lacking performance, head coach Hue Jackson told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal that Kizer will get another chance to lead the offense next Sunday at Cincinnati, which boasts the…read more

Kizer (ribs) practiced fully Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Kizer, who briefly left the Week 10 loss to the Lions after bruising his ribs, was limited Wednesday, but his return to a full practice Thursday signals that he'll be fine for Sunday's home game against the Jaguars. The impending return of wideout Corey Coleman (hand) from injured reserve should boost Kizer's prospects down the stretch, but a run-heavy approach could be in order this weekend, with snow, wind and cold temperatures in the forecast for Cleveand on Sunday, according to Patrick Maks…read more

Kizer (ribs) was limited at Wednesday's practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Kizer briefly left Sunday's 38-24 loss to the Lions, but he returned for the end of the contest and said afterward that he'll continue to play through the rib injury. It only would have been a major concern if he'd missed Wednesday's practice entirely. Of course, a Week 11 matchup with the Jaguars doesn't bode well for his chances to avoid an aggravation, not to mention actually putting up some points. The expected return of Corey Coleman (hand) should at least help a little bit.

Kizer said Monday that his bruised ribs are sore, but he expects to get treatment this week and continue playing through the injury Sunday against the Jaguars, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Kizer left Sunday's 38-24 loss to the Lions in the third quarter, but he only missed a few snaps and still finished with one of his better stat lines of the season. He'll have a hard time matching the performance in Week 11, facing a Jacksonville defense that's completely shut down passing game all season. The Browns do expect Corey Coleman (hand) to return, with Josh Gordon potentially joining him in Week 13. The improved supporting cast should help Kizer down the stretch, assuming he stays…read more

Kizer completed 21 of 37 passes for 232 yards with a touchdown and an interception during Sunday's 38-24 loss to the Lions. He also rushed seven times for 57 yards and a score.

Analysis: Kizer briefly left the game with a rib injury in the third quarter, but he was fortunately able to return later in the fourth after missing just a handful of plays. Unlike in his previous starts, the rookie from Notre Dame was able to lead his team on multiple scoring drives while protecting the ball, save for a late interception by Darius Slay. Kizer rushed for a career-high total, threw for over 200 yards for the first time since Sept. 24 against the Colts and looked more comfortable in the…read more

Returns to Sunday's game

Kizer returned to Sunday's game against the Lions after having left the contest with rib injury.

Analysis: Cody Kessler completed one of three pass attempts for five yards in Kizer's absence, but the rookie signal-caller was able to return to the game, with the 0-8 Browns attempting to mount a late comeback in Week 10.

Exits game with rib injury

Kizer was forced out of Sunday's game against the Lions after taking a hard shot to the ribs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: With Kizer dealing with a rib injury, Cody Kessler has taken over at QB for the Browns. Prior to his exit, Kizer had completed 15 of 24 passes for 178 yards and a TD, while adding seven carries for 57 yards and a TD.

Kizer completed 18 of 34 passes for 179 yards during Sunday's 33-16 loss to the Vikings. He also rushed five times for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Analysis: Though the rookie signal caller didn't add to his league-leading 11 interceptions Sunday, he and the rest of Cleveland's offense had a tough time moving the ball against a superb Vikings defense. The Browns had possession of the ball for just over 22 minutes, as multiple drives went three-and-out due to Kizer's inaccuracy issues. Most of Kizer's completions consisted of short dump-offs, but his best pass of the day came when he hit Ricardo Louis down the left sideline for 37-yard gain that set…read more

Stays on as Week 8 starter

Browns head coach Hue Jackson named Kizer the team's starting quarterback for the Week 8 matchup Sunday with the Vikings.

Analysis: Though Kizer was benched for the third time in as many appearances after struggling mightily during Sunday's 12-9 overtime loss to the Titans, the Browns aren't quite ready to pull the plug on the rookie second-round pick. However, if Kizer's ball-protection issues crop up early in the Week 8 contest, it wouldn't be surprising if he received a quick hook in favor of Cody Kessler, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 121 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in relief of Kizer against the…read more

Kizer was replaced at QB by Cody Kessler in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Titans, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Analysis: Kizer was pulled from the game after throwing back-to-back interceptions. The rookie QB was also replaced at halftime of the Browns' Week 5 loss to the Jets and then gave way to Kevin Hogan, who served as the Week 6 starter against the Texans.

Regains starting role

Browns head coach Hue Jackson announced Wednesday that Kizer would reclaim starting quarterback duties for Sunday's game against the Titans, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Analysis: Kevin Hogan's run as the starter lasted just one game after the second-year signal caller failed to deliver the Browns their first win of the season Sunday against the Texans, completing 20 of 37 passes for 154 yards while tossing three interceptions in the outing. Jackson's comments after that game hinted that Kizer, who submitted a league-worst 49.5 passer rating through his first five NFL starts, would receive another shot at running the offense, so it's not overly surprising that the team…read more

Expected to regain starting role

Browns head coach Hue Jackson is expected to name Kizer the team's starting quarterback Wednesday in advance of Cleveland's Week 7 matchup against Tennessee, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Analysis: Even after Kizer performed miserably in his first five NFL starts before being relegated to backup duties in Week 6 in favor of Kevin Hogan, it was widely expected that Kizer would get another crack at starting before the season concluded, given that the non-contending Browns have little to lose by handing the higher-upside rookie more in-game developmental opportunities. However, Kizer's appointment back into the starting lineup looks like it will come sooner than expected after Hogan, who…read more

Could regain starting job

Browns coach Hue Jackson said he will announce his Week 7 starting quarterback Wednesday, choosing between Kizer and Kevin Hogan, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

Analysis: Hogan was a complete disaster in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Texans, producing just 3.8 yards per pass attempt while tossing a trio of interceptions. Kizer has suffered through a couple similarly poor performances this season, but it nonetheless seems his demotion may only last a week or two. The Browns face the Titans in Week 7, and ESPN.com's Pat McManamon believes Jackson hinted that Kizer likely will get the start.

Out as starting quarterback

Kizer will move to the bench for the Browns' Week 6 matchup Sunday with the Jets after head coach Hue Jackson named Kevin Hogan the team's new starting quarterback, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Analysis: Hogan will become the Browns' 28th starting quarterback since the organization was revived in 1999, which comes on the heels of Kizer proving highly ineffective during Cleveland's 0-5 start to the season. Though the Browns have still publicly expressed faith in Kizer's future with the franchise, the rookie second-round pick hasn't looked ready for NFL action through the first five games of his career with a 49.5 quarterback rating, 50.9 percent completion rate and nine interceptions, all of…read more

The Browns will consider benching Kizer in favor of Kevin Hogan, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Head coach Hue Jackson has been adamant that Kizer will have a long leash, but the chain of events in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Jets may have changed things. The rookie was benched at halftime after committing a pair of red-zone turnovers, and Hogan then came through with an effective second half, completing 16 of 19 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Kizer's 49.5 passer rating is easily the worst in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks, as is his 50.9 completion…read more

Replaced by Hogan

Kevin Hogan replaced Kizer in the second half of Sunday's game against the Jets, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Analysis: Prior to being replaced, Kizer had completed eight of 17 passing attempts for 87 yards, with a pick and also rushed six times for 29 yards. Kizer missed some snaps three weeks ago while dealing with a migraine, but there doesn't appear to be any health or injury concerns tied to him being pulled from this Sunday's contest.

Browns coach Hue Jackson said he expects Kizer to make it through all 16 games, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Analysis: Jackson was referring to the beating Kizer has taken (7.2 percent sack rate), but the coach's comments also serve to reiterate the notion that the rookie has a long leash. Despite being benched at the end of Sunday's 31-7 loss to Cincinnati, the 21-year-old Kizer is in no immediate danger of losing the starting job. He'll likely continue piling up sacks and interceptions while playing with a lackluster supporting cast, but the Browns hope he'll be better for it in the long run. Jackson said he…read more

Kizer completed 16 of 34 passes for 118 yards and threw an interception during Sunday's 31-7 loss to the Bengals. He also rushed five times for 10 yards.

Analysis: Kizer was ultimately benched in favor of Kevin Hogan during the fourth quarter, as the rookie signal caller struggled with accuracy throughout the day. He completed just 47.1 percent of his passes, marking his third consecutive game under 50 percent. Kizer spent much of the game dumping off passes to Duke Johnson with nine completions (10 targets) to the running back, but regardless of his lack of weapons on offense, Kizer will need to improve in all facets of his game for the Browns to have…read more

Kizer completed 22 of 47 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Colts. He added 44 yards and another score on seven carries.

Analysis: Kizer kept the Browns in the game with a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives in the first half, but his pair of third-quarter interceptions made it all but impossible for the team to erase a 31-14 deficit. He did his best with a couple more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, eventually ending the contest with an interception on a desperation heave from his own 5-yard line. Kizer has been unusually aggressive for a rookie quarterback, perhaps benefiting from the knowledge that he has a long leash on…read more

Kizer has a history of migraines, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Analysis: Kizer was removed due to a migraine midway through the second quarter of Sunday's 24-10 loss in Baltimore, but he returned in the middle of the third quarter and finished out the game. He said afterward that the migraines are a hereditary issue, noting that he takes a series of medications and didn't have any flare-ups during his time at Notre Dame. Unlike Kizer's shaky performance, the migraines can probably be written off as a non-issue unless there's another report that he's dealing with…read more

Kizer completed 15 of 31 passes for 182 yards while throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble during Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Ravens. He also rushed five times for 26 yards.

Analysis: Kizer was forced out of the game midway through the second quarter due to a migraine, but he was able to return in the second half. However, his presence didn't do much to help his team. The rookie struggled throughout the game, losing a fumble and throwing three picks, one of which came on a particularly bad throw in the end zone. He finished the game with a quarterback rating of just 27.3, as he was unable to build on his impressive Week 1 performance. Kizer did, however, develop strong…read more

Kizer returned to Sunday's game against the Ravens in the third quarter after leaving the contest earlier due to a migraine issue.

Analysis: Kevin Hogan completed five of 11 passes for 118 yards, a TD and a pick in relief, but Kizer is back in action, signaling that no change at QB is on tap for the Browns.

Forced out of Sunday's game

Kizer was forced out of Sunday's game against the Ravens with a migraine.

Analysis: As a result, Kevin Hogan is in at QB for the Browns. Prior to his exit from the contest, Kizer had completed six of 11 passes for 81 yards and a pick.