Winless Browns return to rookie Kizer as starting QB

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BEREA, Ohio (AP) — After a week watching, Cleveland Browns rookie DeShone Kizer is starting again.

The second-round pick from Notre Dame, who threw a league-high nine interceptions in his first five games, will start Sunday against Tennessee.

The Browns (0-6) demoted an ineffective Kizer last week in favor of Kevin Hogan, who had provided a spark in previous relief appearances but threw three picks in a 33-17 loss to the Houston Texans. Four of Kizer’s interceptions came in the red zone, and coach Hue Jackson wanted him to spend a week on the sideline.

Kizer said standing on the sideline has motivated him to stay on the field.

“Yeah, it definitely sparked my competitive juices,” he said Wednesday before practice. “It was definitely important for me throughout the week to make sure that I’m doing extra. I think the most important thing I got to see form my perspective last week was what my process is and what our process is as a unit. In this league, you’ve got to talk less and do more.”

Kizer has been inconsistent since winning the starting job in training camp and was benched at halftime of Cleveland’s Oct. 8 loss to the New York Jets. But Jackson believes in him and needs him to develop. The Browns are hoping to devote the remainder of the season finding out if the 21-year-old can be their long-term answer at quarterback.

Jackson has been harping on turnovers, and Kizer said seeing their impact on the game has driven home that he has to take care of the ball.

“When you’re on the sideline, you can just feel the momentum of the game a little more than when you’re out there,” he said. “You can see the reactions of everyone — from fans to coaching staff to defense. You get to see all the different parts that move along throughout the game, and for me, it really showed last week the importance of making sure the ball is simply out of harm’s way and what positive plays can do for a team.”

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FILE – In this Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) talks with quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on in Houston. The winless Browns have reinstated Kizer as their starting quarterback for this week’s game against Tennessee. Kizer was benched last week in Houston as Hogan started, but threw three interceptions as the Browns dropped to 0-6. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/10/web1_118998414-b653bbed8813478dafeca841c027b165.jpgFILE – In this Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) talks with quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on in Houston. The winless Browns have reinstated Kizer as their starting quarterback for this week’s game against Tennessee. Kizer was benched last week in Houston as Hogan started, but threw three interceptions as the Browns dropped to 0-6. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)

FILE – In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Cleveland. The winless Browns have reinstated Kizer as their starting quarterback for this week’s game against Tennessee. Kizer was benched last week in Houston as Kevin Hogan started, but threw three interceptions as the Browns dropped to 0-6. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/10/web1_118998414-a59d1010612f4b868fe11411dfb2bd88.jpgFILE – In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Cleveland. The winless Browns have reinstated Kizer as their starting quarterback for this week’s game against Tennessee. Kizer was benched last week in Houston as Kevin Hogan started, but threw three interceptions as the Browns dropped to 0-6. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)

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