Does Robert Griffin III still figure into the Browns’ QB plans?
Maybe. Sorta. Kinda. More or less.
But perhaps not the way you think.
It’s possible that Griffin will return later this year from the shoulder injury he suffered in the season opener at Pittsburgh. But don’t count on it. With the season long gone – the Browns fell to 0-10 with their 28-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night – head coach Hue Jackson is going to be reluctant to play Griffin the rest of the year. What could be gained from playing him? Nothing, really.
With that, then, Jackson wants to have Griffin fully recovered – fully healthy – before he plays again, and that can be reached only by letting him heal in the offseason and coming back next year. He would compete with Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan and the quarterback the Browns will almost certainly take in the 2017 NFL Draft with their first pick, likely at No. 1 overall. Josh McCown will not return.
Jackson could have RG 3 serve as the bridge quarterback until that first draft choice is ready to play.
That way, with Griffin and Kessler as buffers, the first pick will have time to slowly ease his way into the lineup.
The Browns have to get that big-time quarterback. They can’t count on RG 3, Kessler or anyone else to be the big-picture answer to their longstanding woes at that position.
Now the Browns just have to work their way through these final six games this season so as to get to that point.
But, the way they’re playing, that will be no small chore.
