BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler emerged from a workout Monday wearing a long-sleeved gray T-shirt that showed one of the team’s slogans on the back.
It said: “2016 Cleveland Browns Turnaround.”
A slow, difficult and painful one. At 0-4 the Browns are the NFL’s only winless team – and they are home Sunday against New England – and the losing streak to start the season is heightened by a number of major injuries, turnovers, blown leads, missed opportunities and rotten luck.
“It’s like nothing can go right,” receiver Terrelle Pryor said.
First-year coach Hue Jackson entered the season knowing it would be tough balancing the growth of one of the league’s youngest teams – Cleveland has 16 rookies – with success.
“I didn’t think it would be this difficult,” the cheery Jackson said, cracking a smile. “It’s tough but I’m seeing a lot of young guys improve. We’re just not seeing what I want to see, and what the team wants to see, on the other side of the ledger.”
Cleveland’s rough start continued Sunday with a 31-20 loss to Washington, which took advantage of two fumbles and an interception thrown by Kessler.
The loss included another significant injury. Starting center Austin Reiter tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in his first pro start and is done for the season.
Reiter is the eighth starter to get hurt and continues a constant offensive line shuffle.
Reiter was starting because John Greco moved back to right guard after Jackson benched Alvin Bailey for one game following his arrest last week on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired.
Greco took over at center after starter Cam Erving sustained a bruised lung in the opener.
Bailey will be back in the lineup after Jackson said his punishment is over. “I don’t hold grudges,” Jackson said.
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