BEREA, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, a North Olmsted native and St. Ignatius grad, will start Sunday in Minnesota in place of Brandon Weeden, who is out with a sprained thumb.
Hoyer was chosen by coach Rob Chudzinski ahead of Jason Campbell, who had been listed as the team's No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart since the beginning of camp.
“I feel like based on our current situation where we’re at offensively as well as getting into the game planning for Minnesota that Brian’s strengths are the best fit for this week, and that he gives us our best chance to win,” Chudzinski said. “The things that he does well fit what we need.”
Chudzinski said Campbell, who has been the No. 2 quarterback since the start of training camp, handled it well.
“He’s a real pro,'' said Chudzinski. "He’s a team player. He said he’ll be ready if we need him.”
Hoyer, a fifth-year pro, has started one career game, a loss to San Francisco in the season finale last year less than three weeks after he joined the Cardinals.
Overall, Hoyer completed 19 of 34 attempts for 225 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a 73.8 rating that game. That performance included a 53-yard strike to receiver Michael Floyd. The Cardinals lost, 27-13.
"This is what I came here for, is to play,'' said Hoyer. "You don't come here to be just a guy, and I think anybody who plays this position in this league, they want to be on the field.
"But unfortunately, there can only be one. It's not like there's four receivers or two tight ends or five linemen. There can only be one quarterback out there, and you want to be that guy and if you don't have that drive, then you really don't belong.''
Chudzinski said early indications are that Weeden's thumb, which he smacked off John Greco's helmet in Sunday's 14-6 loss to the Ravens, is not a long-term issue.
"Everything has been positive up to this point,'' he said. "He’ll follow up with a hand specialist tomorrow, and we’ll see, get a better indication later on this week on his status going forward.”
Chudzinski said he doesn't know if Weeden will require surgery.
“We’ll see tomorrow with the specialist, what he says,'' said Chudzinski. "But everything’s been good. He’s been making progress and improving in the last few days.”
Chudzinski didn't guarantee that Weeden will get his job back when he's healthy.
“I’m going to leave all the options open,” Chudzinski said. “Really, it’s a matter of where he’s at from a health standpoint and all that plays into it, and where we’re at and how guys are playing as well.”
Chudzinski added, "Change can be good. It remains to be seen how Brian plays.''
Weeden was asked if he's concerned about keeping the starting job: "I don’t worry about that stuff.''
He added, "You never want to get hurt. I don’t care when it is, it could be the 16th game or the first game. as a player you want to be out there. it’s frustrating. I want to be out there with my guys.''
As for the status of his thumb, he said, "I don’t even know anything. I’ll know more tomorrow.''
He said he expects good things from Hoyer, originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State.
"Brian will do great," Weeden said. "He's a good player, knows this system, has been around (Tom) Brady. I’m excited for him.''
Chudzinski stressed that the decision to start Hoyer was absolutely his and that, “Brian does a number of things well. Certainly playing in Chicago, he gave us a spark there, and that’s what we’re looking for is a spark. He can make every throw that you need. There’s no limitations from that standpoint.
"He's a smart guy, efficient, can operate and has a way of making plays. He gives us the best chance to win.''
Browns general manager Mike Lombardi has long been an admirer of Hoyer, in part because of the coaching and mentoring he received in New England under Lombardi's close friend, Bill Belichick.
In December of 2011 when Lombardi was an analyst for the NFL Network, he said of the Patriots' backups: "I think Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are starters. I've said this many times: If I would have taken the GM job of the 49ers, I would have gone after Brian Hoyer, because I think he has all the traits and characteristics.
"If I were the Cleveland Browns, I'd rather have Brian Hoyer behind center than Colt McCoy. I think he's got all the traits you need, in terms of leadership, toughness, the arm strength, the ability to move the team."
Hoyer will have the benefit of deep threat Josh Gordon's return to the field after his two-game suspension for a failed drug test. In Gordon's absence, the Browns have scored a total of 16 points -- and one touchdown -- in their two losses.
Hoyer said serving as Brady's backup in New England for three seasons helped prepare him for this moment, especially the attention to detail.
He also said it was tough to be let go in the final cuts in New England last season and be without a team until November, when the Steelers signed him. He went on to get cut by the Steelers and then the Cardinals before the Browns signed him in May.
He feels he's a starting quarterback in the NFL, and now is his chance to prove it.
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