BEREA, Ohio -- Brandon Weeden has taken every snap of every practice thus far with the first team offense. He started the first preseason game and played exclusively with the first unit while putting up a 127.7 rating.
However, Rob Chudzinski isn't ready to name Weeden the starter – just yet.
"There's a point where I will name the starting quarterback for the season at some point," the Browns head coach said.
He was asked if that point was now.
"Not yet."
Chudzinski said he wants to see the preseason play itself out.
"I think it's still close and we're finding out every game.," he said. "These games are important opportunities for the guys to show what they can do.
"I think we'll see more as there are still three preseason games left. There is still a lot of work to be done and plenty of practice time, as well."
Chudzinski said the coaching staff is looking at the quarterback play each and every day.
"Every day is an evaluation and we look at it every day," he said. "(The quarterbacks) each have done well and showed good things."
Weeden was 10-of-13 passing for 112 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against the Rams.
Chudzinski was asked if Weeden has not showed him enough through the OTAs, minicamp and training camp to be declared the outright starter.
"I don't look at it like that," he said. "I think you look at a day or a play or throw or this and that that you'd like to improve on and you see it. You see the improvement, making the correction and see the progress."
Chudzinski was asked what he wanted to see from Weeden.
"I want to see everybody build on the first game and show improvement and progress.”
Jason Campbell has played with the second team the entire time he's been with the Browns. In his first preseason appearance, he was 6-of-7 passing for 37 yards. He rushed once for 12 yards, threw no touchdowns nor was he intercepted. His rating was 88.7.
Chudzinski was asked how he could be evaluated since he hasn't worked with the first team.
"I think you can tell," he said. "The things he's demonstrated with that group or what I would expect, I think he's shown well."
Campbell said he will do whatever he needs to do to help the team.
"Whatever it takes to become better," Campbell said. "Whether it's support or whatever it is, I just want to do the best I can.
"Once the season starts, we'll know our roles and we'll help each other. It's a great way to build our football team.
Chudzinski said Campbell's familiarity with the offense has been helpful.
"He had a grasp of the offense and played in an offense that was similar so that familiarity has been good," he said. "From leadership and the extra things in helping the receivers out, helping get guys lined up, a lot of little things that a veteran quarterback and a guy that is unselfish demonstrates."
Chudzinski said that Brian Hoyer is in the mix, but is currently running with the third team.
"I think he's shown well and done some good things," the coach said. "We will get into the games here and hopefully, get these guys plenty of opportunities. Again, we still have three weeks of practice left to evaluate. In essence, we are halfway there."
Chudzinski said his goal is to make sure the Browns have the right quarterback on the field when the season opens against the Dolphins on Sept. 8.
"The process has been what it has been to this point," he said. We will make determinations along the way. At whatever point is the right time to do that, we will name a starter.”
EXTRA POINTS
-- Chudzinski said that running back Trent Richardson will make his preseason debut against the Lions on Thursday night.
"I had a feeling you would ask about that," Chudzinski said "We'll play Trent, we'll give him a couple of series and then we'll go from there."
Richardson said he was a bit relieved when he learned he would play after sitting out the opener to protect a sore shin.
"I am happy," Richardson said. "I kind of had a feeling he was going to say 'Yeah' because he had me going in with the ones today and with the group install. It felt good when I was out there.
"It was a big relief. I want to play all the time and I'm just real happy with the decision the coach made."
Richardson said he has things he wants to work on after missing the entire preseason during his rookie year.
"I just want to get my timing down with the offensive line and being in there with my team," he said. "Just to get back in the groove. I haven't played in a game since (Game 15) against the Broncos, so it's been a while since I played in a real football game. I just can't wait to get out there and get that game feeling again."
Richardson said it is important for him to play in the preseason.
"It's really important," he said. "To get the timing, conditioning, see where I'm at and see what I needy work on game-wise, what I need to study on, the small goals I need to set for the game and to be where I want to be at going into the season."
Chudzinski was asked if Richardson hugged him when he told him he'd play against the Lions.
"Not a hug, but I got a smile."
-- After injuring his right thumb and leaving the field during Monday's practice, running back Montario Hardesty was back practicing Tuesday. Hardesty didn't wear shoulder pads, but he did take part in the individual drills.
"Montario Hardesty had a dislocated thumb, but we padded him up and he was able to go out and do some individual drills at practice today," Chudzinski said. "We'll see about him for next week."
Hardesty quickly walked off the practice field and declined to comment to reporters. He was wearing a padded type of soft cast to protect his thumb.
-- Chudzinski said he plans on playing the starters a bit more than they did against the Rams.
"We plan on paying the starters midway through the second quarter and possibly until the half," Chudzinski said. "From a reps standpoint and flow of the game and then we'll get the twos in and the threes at some point in the fourth quarter."
-- Chudzinski said that Brandon Bogotay will do all of the kicking against the Lions. He said he and Shayne Graham are close.
"It's pretty tight competition," Chudzinski said. "It's a day to day thing.It just depends on the day.
"We'll kick Brandon Bogotay in this game. We'll give him an opportunity and we'll get a chance to see him. He'll get a chance to perform where he'll (take all the kicks)."
Chudzinski said it wasn't for sure that Graham will kick in the next game.
-- Not practicing were WR David Nelson (knee), CB Leon McFadden (groin), OL Shawn Lauvao (ankle), OL Ryan Miller (head) and OL Chris Faulk (knee.
FB Brock Bolen (calf) and DL Hall Davis (hamstring) returned to practice. Bolen had missed most of training camp with the injury.
-- Dion Lewis and Johnson Bademosi will be primarily looked on as the kickoff returners.
-- The Glenville High School football team was in attendance at the Browns final practice open to the public. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam spent time talking with head coach Ted Ginn Sr. during practice.
