Browns had to turn to 4th-string QB Kevin Hogan and he's doing pretty well

The Cleveland Browns were already trading snaps between third- and fourth-string quarterbacks Sunday, but now it’s just Kevin Hogan leading the way against the Cincinnati Bengals after Cody Kessler went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion and the team announced he will not return.

Kessler made his fifth start for the Browns in Week 7 after the team lost Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown to injuries in the first two weeks of the season. He started strong — completing nine of 11 passes for 82 yards — before suffering a hit that sent him to the locker room and eventually ended his game.

The Browns were already using Hogan prior to Kessler’s injury, though. The 6’3, 217-pound rookie came in for rushing packages and racked up 37 yards on his first three carries before he was asked to take over passing duties for the rest of the game.

Hogan’s holding his own. He scored a touchdown to keep the Browns’ hopes alive, a 28-yard rushing touchdown that’s the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in the NFL this season.

Cleveland has yet to find a win in the Hue Jackson era, and has struggled with some serious bad luck with injuries.

Terrelle Pryor has been the Browns’ emergency quarterback in the past, but was questionable after suffering a hamstring injury. While he is active and caught a pass early Sunday, it’d be a full-blown disaster if Pryor was forced into action against the Bengals.