MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.: Cody Kessler took a hit to his throwing arm that drew blood. In the postgame locker room one thigh was bandaged all the way to the knee. He got his first experience with the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Kessler may not have come away with a victory, as the Browns fell 30-24 in overtime to the Miami Dolphins Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. But the rookie third-round pick from USC became the first Browns quarterback to finish a game this season without his next snap in doubt.
Coach Hue Jackson wasn’t sure of that, so he approached Kessler at his locker afterward.
“Are you all right?” Jackson asked.
“Yes, sir,” Kessler replied.
Two of Kessler’s first three snaps were fumbled, although center John Greco took the blame for the first. But after that Kessler settled down. Not expected to play this season behind Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown, Kessler completed 21-of-33 passes for 244 yards without an interception and compiled a rating of 85.9.
Of the 25 quarterbacks who preceded him as the Browns’ starter, Kessler’s rating in his first game was surpassed by only five — Kelly Holcomb (120.2 vs. Kansas City in 2002), Jeff Garcia (99.3 vs. Baltimore in 2004), Charlie Frye (136.7 vs. Jacksonville in 2005), Brady Quinn (104.3 vs. Denver in 2008) and Jason Campbell (105.4 at Kansas City in 2013).
“He had some moments that we wish we had back, but he also did some good things, too,” Jackson said. “I thought he held his own OK, but I have to coach him better.
“He made some tough throws, and he stood in there. He got pummeled a few times, and he kept getting up. He could have sat himself on the bench, because I don’t think he was feeling great, but he fought.”
The hit that prompted the referee to suspect a concussion came with 10:56 remaining and the Browns facing third-and-7 from the Miami 11. Kessler was sacked by Cameron Wake and fumbled, with the Dolphins’ Jelani Jenkins recovering at the 19. But Wake was flagged for offsides, negating the turnover. While Kessler was being checked by the doctors, Terrelle Pryor rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. Kessler returned in time to hit Gary Barnidge for the two-point conversion that cut the Dolphins’ lead to 24-21.
“I took a shot there, and it was in my arm, and I laid there for a second and was kind of just holding my arm,” Kessler explained. “But the referee said, ‘By rule you laid down there a little bit longer and you took a big hit, so you’ve got to come out and get checked real fast.’ Obviously I didn’t want to.
“I told them it wasn’t my head, it was my arm. I took a shot and it started bleeding a little bit.”
Asked how it felt after the game, Kessler brushed it off as “just a little bruise.”
Jackson used Pryor for 14 snaps in the wildcat formation, easing Kessler’s burden. But when Kessler was in the huddle, the Browns said he was in control.
“He wasn’t in the huddle acting like a rookie. He wasn’t timid, he wasn’t nervous, he wasn’t scared,” receiver Andrew Hawkins said. “Kessler came in there with all the poise of a veteran. All he kept saying was, ‘We’re going to win this football game’ and he fought his tail off.
“He got hit a couple times, he was hurting a little bit, but it didn’t slow him down at all. I couldn’t be more proud of him and happy to fight with a guy like that.”
Left tackle Joe Thomas said noise was a factor on the Browns’ opening series, which began with a delay of game, an Isaiah Crowell 6-yard run, Kessler’s fumble, which he recovered, and a strip sack by Wake, also recovered by Jones.
“Obviously I wish that would’ve went a little better, but I think it’s something to build off of,” Kessler said. “That first hit kind of knocked the nerves out of me a little bit. From then on, I felt we did a really good job of putting some long drives together.”
As to what he wanted to improve next week at Washington, Kessler said, “I’ve got to get the ball out of my hand a little bit faster and make quicker decisions.”
Kessler had some rough moments against a Dolphins defensive line that features Wake, Ndamukong Suh and Mario Williams. But Kessler’s performance left his teammates eager to see more.
“I’m proud of him. The way he prepared all week, the guy is smart,” Greco said. “At practice, I had no doubt. I had all the confidence in the world in the guy, and I think he showed that today. I’m encouraged moving forward with him, and we have to get him a ‘W.’ ”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.