Cody Kessler has analyzed and re-analyzed every snap he's taken as a Cleveland Brown. He's identified to good, the bad and the improvable week to week as he's progressed through his rookie season.
With more time on his hands because of a concussion, Kessler had the opportunity this past week to dive even deeper into the film of his eight starts. The takeaways are seemingly endless, but one, all-encompassing critique emerged.
"I wanted to win games," Kessler said Tuesday. "Unfortunately, we came close a couple times but that did not happen. It is just a learning process. You can't get frustrated with it. You have to keep pushing and keep moving on."
Whether or not Kessler will receive the opportunity to lead Cleveland to its first win of the season will be determined next week. He'll be among the three candidates in discussion to start Dec. 11 against the Bengals, joining veteran Josh McCown and Robert Griffin III, the Browns' season-opening starter who's been sidelined since Week 1 with a shoulder injury.
Browns coach Hue Jackson said he'll use the extra time provided by the bye week before announcing a decision. Kessler's made it clear since training camp, when he was the team's No. 3 quarterback, he'd roll with whatever is best for the team while preparing each week as if he were the starter.
That mindset hasn't changed after starting two-thirds of the team's games to date.
"I know that I just went out there and did everything I could and played as hard as I could and put everything I have on the field," Kessler said. "As a competitor, you want to be out there every chance you get, but like I said, whatever Coach decides. If it is (someone else), then I am going to be a great teammate and stay locked in and stay prepared all week and continue to prepare as I have.
"You want to get those reps, and I was fortunate enough to get them, understand the game and understand what to do and what not to do. If anything, though, this year has benefitted me a lot being able to learn and different situations and playing against different teams."
Kessler's was equally upbeat about his health, which has been tested in a big way throughout the season. He dealt with a chest injury suffered Week 5 against the Patriots and suffered two concussions, the latest of which made him inactive for Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Kessler said the symptoms of his second concussion weren't as apparent as the first and he passed through the league's protocol with "no hiccups." Jackson said Monday he hadn't ruled out the possibility of shutting down Kessler for the season, stressing "it's important we do the right thing."
No matter what's decided, Kessler expressed confidence in the direction he and the team as a whole are headed.
"Everyone on this team is working toward the common goal, and that's obviously to get a win and continue to build this organization and build this team," Kessler said. "I'm just so proud to be a part of it."
