The Cleveland Browns will stick with Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the rival Cincinnati Bengals.
Coach Rod Chudzinski announced Wednesday during a weekly news conference that Hoyer will get the nod over Brandon Weeden after leading the Browns to a 31-27 victory on the road over the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday.
Making his first start for the Browns and the second of his NFL career, Hoyer completed 30 of 54 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns, including a winning 7-yard scoring strike to Jordan Cameron in the final minute. Hoyer also threw three interceptions but was impressive in leading the Browns to their first victory of the season during an unsettling week that saw running back Trent Richardson traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
Weeden started the first two games but suffered a thumb injury that forced him to sit out last week. The thumb has not healed sufficiently for him to return this week.
Hoyer is in his fifth year in the NFL. The Cleveland-area native was acquired by the Browns in the offseason from the Arizona Cardinals, where he played in two games last season. Hoyer spent his first three seasons with the New England Patriots as a backup to Tom Brady.