Browns' Kizer to start 3rd preseason game vs. Buccaneers

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer will start the team's third preseason game Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Hue Jackson announced Wednesday.

However, Jackson reiterated that no decision has been made on who will become the permanent regular-season starter, though he said Kizer is "positioning himself well" to win the job.

"This morning, I informed our quarterbacks that DeShone will be our starter for the third preseason game against Tampa," said Jackson, according to Andrew Gribble of the team's official site. "He has made a lot of progress by investing the time necessary to learn our offense, working hard to improve on his fundamentals while also effectively moving the offense in preseason games. Development is so important for a young quarterback, this is the next step he needs to take and he deserves this opportunity. We are very excited about seeing DeShone in the role of starter for this week, as he is certainly positioning himself well to earn the starting job heading into the regular season.

"Much like DeShone, Brock (Osweiler), Cody (Kessler), and Kevin (Hogan) have worked extremely hard throughout training camp and have helped create a very supportive environment in our quarterback room. They've pushed each other, worked well together and we expect that to continue."

Kizer has been the most impressive quarterback over the first half of the preseason, leading three touchdown drives and looking poised beyond his years. Meanwhile, Osweiler and Kessler have flashed in moments, but both have generally struggled to get the Browns' offense moving.

While Jackson will be looking for Kizer to cement his position with a good performance, the rookie starting the preseason game in which the first team plays the most snaps is a sure sign he's the favorite for the gig.

Kizer was selected 52nd overall in this year's draft, and if handed the top job, will be the Browns' 27th starting quarterback since 1999.

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