Grossman spent the past four seasons (2010-13) with the Redskins following one year with the Texans (2009). Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
With no clarity in the team’s ongoing quarterback competition, the Cleveland Browns shook up the depth chart Tuesday, signing Rex Grossman and waiving Tyler Thigpen.
Grossman is in his 12th NFL season and hits the ground with a complete understanding of Kyle Shanahan’s offense in which he played with the Washington Redskins. Grossman was the third-string quarterback in Washington behind Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins.
Grossman is not considered a threat to the starting job. Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel are vying for the No. 1 job in the preseason, but neither has many positives to stand on after the preseason opener at Detroit on Saturday.
The team has a full week to prepare for this week’s game — a Monday night date with the Redskins — and head coach Mike Pettine sounds determined to keep Hoyer installed as the starter. He said Monday of the QB pecking order “Nothing has changed.”
The only change is adding Grossman while parting with Thigpen.
A first-round pick of the Chicago Bears (22nd overall) in 2003, Grossman has played in 54 games with a 25-22 (.532) record as a starter. He has completed 863 of 1,562 career passes for 10,232 yards with 56 touchdowns and 60 interceptions.
Grossman played for the Bears until 2008 and led Chicago to Super Bowl XLI during his first full season as the starter. Grossman spent the past four seasons (2010-13) with the Redskins following one year with the Texans (2009). Last season, he was inactive for 13 games and was active but did not play in the team’s final three contests with Griffin inactive.
Grossman registered a 23-9 record as a starter for the Florida Gators under the direction of head coach Steve Spurrier. The 2001 Associated Press National Player of the Year finished his career with 9,164 passing yards and 77 touchdown passes. A native of Bloomington Ind., Grossman graduated from Bloomington South High School.
