Browns' Cody Kessler knocked out, Whitehurst also hurt in loss to Patriots

The Cleveland Browns have played four different players at quarterback this season. Five games into the 2016 NFL season they are onto QB No. 5. Will they need a sixth next week?

Rookie Cody Kessler, who started Sunday in place of the injured Josh McCown (who replaced Robert Griffin III), was trying to lateral the ball late in the first quarter against the New England Patriots but was taken down hard for a safety. Kessler got up grabbing his chest and was clearly hurting.

The official announcement was that Kessler had suffered a chest/rib injury and was ruled out after halftime. The Browns would go on to lose to the Patriots and Tom Brady — breaking: he’s pretty good — by a score of 33-13.

The Browns were left with wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, who has been effective moonlighting as a changeup QB in Hue Jackson’s offense, and Charlie Whitehurst, who was signed off the street after the Browns’ string of injuries at the position. Whitehurst finished the game 14-of-24 passing for 182 yards with a TD and an interception, which was not terrible when you think about how short a time he’s been on the roster. But then Whitehurst got hurt.

Browns, man …

The Kessler injury is bad news for the Browns, of course. But for Kessler it’s also too bad because he had shown some nice poise. The third-round pick was off to a solid start in this game, completing 5-of-8 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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