BEREA, Ohio -- The last time Hue Jackson benched a rookie quarterback here, he became the third string quarterback and now stands on the sidelines in street clothes every week.
It was Cody Kessler last year against the Ravens, and the move foreshadowed Kessler's demotion to inactive third QB this season.
But Jackson's benching of DeShone Kizer, in the second half of Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Jets and for Sunday's game in Houston, is different.
Jackson didn't bench Kizer because he'd seen enough of him. He benched him because Kizer wasn't seeing enough -- and he needs him to play faster and more efficiently before starting him again, which he has every intention of doing.