Hue Jackson: Cody Kessler remains Browns’ starting QB

Hue Jackson may have benched Cody Kessler during Thursday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but that does not mean the rookie is no longer the Browns’ starter.

Jackson said after Cleveland’s 28-7 defeat that Kessler remains the starting quarterback.

“What do you mean what do I do now?” Jackson asked the media in response to a QB question Thursday night. “Cody’s still the quarterback. I took Cody out of the game because I wanted a spark.”

Jackson pulled Kessler for veteran Josh McCown after the rookie went 3-and-out to start the second half. Five of the team’s six possessions with Kessler at QB resulted in punts, while the other was a touchdown pass — Cleveland’s lone score.

Jackson excused Kessler’s struggles.

“A young player playing a couple days and all of the sudden it was a little bit different and difficult and so I wanted to try to the veteran and that’s what I did. There’s nothing more to it than that. I’m still going to find out more about Cody Kessler as we move forward. That’s not going to change,” Jackson said via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

McCown struggled more than Kessler, as he went just 6-of-13 for 59 yards and two interceptions. But Jackson was sick of Kessler missing plays and said he wanted to see if McCown could give the Browns a spark. It didn’t happen, but Jackson does not regret his decision.

Jackson and the Browns know that McCown is not a long-term solution, so they want to at least see what Kessler can offer them for the future. But you have to figure that with the team so close to its first win up 7-6 in the second half, Jackson was trying to see if the QB change would help lock up the victory.