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Cleveland Browns QB Cody Kessler gets first-team reps to open training camp

By The Sports Xchange
Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) throws under parser from the Cincinnati Bengals during the first of play against the at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 23, 2016. File photo by John Sommers II/UPI
Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) throws under parser from the Cincinnati Bengals during the first of play against the at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 23, 2016. File photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo

Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler will get the first-team reps to start training camp, coach Hue Jackson announced Wednesday.

"He deserves the chance to walk out there first,'' Jackson told reporters at a press conference to kick off training camp, which opens with the first practice Thursday.

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Jackson made no guarantees about Kessler remaining No. 1 and said he would like to name his starter before the first preseason game.

"The cream will rise to the top,'' Jackson said.

Second-round rookie DeShone Kizer, Brock Osweiler and Kevin Hogan also will compete for the starting job.

During minicamp, Kessler and Kizer split reps with the starters and Osweiler worked mostly with the second-team players.

The 24-year-old Kessler started eight games last season for the Browns, passing for 1,380 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions as a rookie.

The Browns acquired Osweiler from the Houston Texans in March, even though he was not expected to be in the team's long-term plans. The Texans shipped Osweiler, a 2017 sixth-round pick and 2018 second-round pick, making the move to dump his $16 million salary this year and because he failed in his only season in Houston despite his 8-6 record as a starter.

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"All four of the guys have an opportunity,'' Browns head of football operations Sashi Browns said. "Brock's on our team. We understood he had a chance to come in and establish himself as a starter.''

Jackson also said defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, is "totally healthy" from a left foot sprain and ready for training camp. Garrett, 21, suffered a left lateral foot sprain during minicamp in June.

The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Garrett registered 8.5 sacks last season at Texas A&M despite playing with a high-ankle sprain. He collected 141 tackles (47 for loss) and 31 sacks and forced seven fumbles during his three-year career with the Aggies.

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