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Hue Jackson: DeShone Kizer needs to learn to throw ball away, protect Cleveland Browns

Coach Hue Jackson believes rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer needs to learn to throw ball away and protect Cleveland Browns.
Credit: Scott Galvin
Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) reacts to a penalty call during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at FirstEnergy Stadium.

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer tried to make a game-winning play on the first drive of overtime against the Green Bay Packers at FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday, but veteran linebacker Clay Matthews III had other ideas.

Matthews altered the course of Kizer’s pass and forced an interception, which led to Brett Hundley throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Davante Adams with 5:05 to play in the overtime session.

“Oh no, I think you have to throw that ball away,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “We are in overtime. You are not trying to make a play. The one thing I have always told our quarterbacks is tipped balls don’t find the ground. They normally find the other team. That is a time to be team-protecting, see if we can throw it away and live for another play, another opportunity.”

The Browns (0-13) won the coin toss in overtime and took the ball, but on third-and-two from his own 33-yard line, Kizer scrambled to his right, reversed course back left, and threw a pass as he was hit by Matthews.

Matthews got enough of Kizer’s arm to alter the flight of the pass, and the jump ball was intercepted by Packers safety Josh Jones at the Cleveland 42-yard line.

Kizer’s initial read was to wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was blanketed by a defender on the right side of the field, which is why he reversed course and tried to extend the play.

“I’m not going to say that Josh was held,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to get into if he was or wasn’t. We weren’t able to make the play. We have to find a way to make that play and execute it better.”

Despite consistent windy conditions throughout the first two quarters, it was the passing game that put the Browns in front of the Packers, as Kizer completed 15 of his 18 throws for 174 yards and two touchdowns against one interception, which came on his last attempt of the half.

However, Kizer completed just five of his final 10 throws, including the overtime interception.

“Higgins had a chance to slide away as DeShone was moving, but I think DeShone was moving so fast that he couldn’t get himself stopped to pop Higgins the ball,” Jackson said. “He felt like he needed to keep moving, and then, he waved Higgins further down the field. That is when Higgins turned and ran, and that gave Matthews a chance to catch up with him.”

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