The Cleveland Browns are searching for answers after starting the season 0-2. The team fell to the Baltimore Ravens 14-6 on Sunday, capping off yet another winless start in Cleveland. What made the loss worse was quarterback Brandon Weeden left the game with a sprained thumb and is now questionable in the Week 3 game. While Rob Chudzinski says it is too early to predict anything, he will not rule out starting Jason Campbell of Brian Hoyer.
Weeden was sacked five times in the loss, finally giving out in the fourth quarter. In the final 30 minutes of the game, the Browns recorded just 85 total yards of offense, not scoring a single point. Blame could be placed all over the team as Chudzinski continues to stress perseverance.
'We just have to keep grinding," Chudzinski said, via USATodaySports.com. "We have to keep working at it. The players are there, the things are there. We're just off a little bit."
The issue of Weeden's thumb could carry on for a few weeks. The quarterback got good news as X-rays were negative as far as broken bones go, but for now he remains day-to-day and possibly doubtful for next Sunday. As result, Chudzinski is considering starting Campbell who replaced Weeden on Sunday or Hoyer. Is this a result of the injury or poor play?
Chudzinski expressed his hesitations over Weeden during the offseason. The quarterback was not officially named the starter until right be the preseason began. Cleveland has scored just 16 poins in two weeks, sending off a few alarms throughout the organization. Of course, the second-year quarterback has not received much help from other teammates; he will be given all of the blame.
"You gotta bounce back,'' said Weeden, via the Plain Dealer. "There's no reason to feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to find a way to win games. This is a strong-willed, strong-minded team. It's early in the year, we've got a good team with Minnesota next, we've got to respond, come back and get on the right track.''
ESPN Stats & Info is now giving the Browns a 12 percent chance of making it into the playoffs. At this point it might not matter who is starting at quarterback. Chudzinski says he will start the player that gives the team the best chance at winning. Campbell would get the vote based on experience unless Hoyer is looking better in practice than expected.
