CLEVELAND — In five weeks, the Browns have changed quarterbacks, traded their star running back, lost two straight and won three in a row. October just began and already they have been through a season’s worth of events.
It didn’t get any less dizzying Thursday night, when the Browns (3-2) took over sole possession of first place in the AFC North with their 37-24 win over the Bills and Brian Hoyer — the hometown-hero quarterback who had sparked the mini-revival — walked out of FirstEnergy Stadium on crutches, his right knee immobilized in a brace.
Cleveland’s feel-good story is now tinged with pain. Hoyer will miss the rest of the season with a torn right knee ligament, the team said Friday.
“It’s such an adversity-driven league, you’ve got to respond,” said Brandon Weeden, the opening day quarterback who returned to the field as Hoyer’s sub. “That just shows the strength and the will of this football team.”
As Hoyer slid following an 11-yard scramble in the first quarter, both of his legs were awkwardly bent when he was hit from the side by Bills rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso just a few yards in front of Cleveland’s sideline, which protested for a penalty to be called. Hoyer was in obvious pain as he was checked by Cleveland’s medical personnel. He spent a few minutes on a trainer’s table on the sideline before limping to the locker room for tests and treatment.
At halftime, Chudzinski told the NFL Network that he feared Hoyer had torn ligaments.
Hoyer had taken the starting job from Weeden, who sprained his thumb in Week 2 and was only cleared to play this week. Chudzinski decided to stick with Hoyer, but will now have to go with Weeden, who threw a 37-yard TD pass to Josh Gordon in the third quarter to rally the Browns, who trailed 10-0 in the first half and 24-17 in the third quarter.
Willis McGahee, signed following the trade of Trent Richardson, logged 72 yards on 26 carries and Travis Benjamin provided an electrifying 79-yard punt return for a touchdown.