Cleveland Browns name Cody Kessler starting QB

Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson announced Friday that rookie Cody Kessler will start at quarterback against the Dallas Cowboys.

Kessler missed last Sunday's game against the New York Jets because of a concussion. Josh McCown started but will return to the backup role.

Jackson said he hopes Kessler can keep the starting job for the rest of the season to see whether he can be the Browns quarterback of the future.

"That's a fair assessment, because that's why he's playing, because I need to know," Jackson told reporters Friday. "I don't want to just say if he does great that doesn't mean that we're not going to draft a quarterback, because I think you've got to always have quarterbacks. You've got to keep taking shots until you have the guy that you feel is going to do what you need done.

"But you need to know what's on your team, and the more I'm around guys, the more that I see them in different situations and play under duress and stress and pressure, the more I'm going to know about them. So, this is an opportunity for Cody to demonstrate that. But more so than that, it's an opportunity for him to go out with his teammates and help them get a win."

The 23-year-old Kessler will be making his sixth start of the season for the winless Browns (0-8). He is completing 66.9 of his passes for 947 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

Jackson said the 37-year-old McCown wants to play.

"I think he understands the situation we're in. He's been doing this for 15 years," Jackson said.