With only five chances left to get a win, Browns going back to Josh McCown at QB

The Cleveland Browns have just five chances remaining to get a win and avoid becoming the second 0-16 team in NFL history

They’ll try to stop the pain this week with Josh McCown at quarterback.

Hue Jackson announced the switch, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It wasn’t necessarily voluntary. Rookie Cody Kessler has a concussion and is in the protocol. After saying it looked like McCown might start against the New York Giants this week, Jackson made it clear that McCown would be the starter.

That might help McCown, who has looked bad in relief in each of the Browns’ past two games. He came in after halftime against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10 because Kessler was struggling. He came in Sunday after Kessler got hurt. The results weren’t good either time. But a full week of practice with the starters might help.

It also might be a blessing for the 0-11 Browns. While the prudent move is to play a young quarterback, even someone like rookie Kevin Hogan, nobody wants to finish 0-16. The 1-15 teams through history are easily forgotten, but 0-16 is remembered forever. McCown hasn’t played well the past two weeks, but logically he gives the Browns the best chance to win one game.

Robert Griffin III could also factor in at quarterback before the season is done, though Jackson made it sound like Griffin is not healthy enough to come off injured reserve yet. It’ll be McCown for at least this week. Then it will be interesting to see how Jackson handles the position the rest of the season, at least until the Browns get their first win.

At this point, if McCown can lead even one upset win, Browns fans would be thankful to be spared from infamy.

– – – – – – –

Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @YahooSchwab