Kessler was smacked by Dont’a Hightower on the play and was slow getting up. The quarterback was taken back to the locker room for evaluation. The Browns announced a chest/ribs injury, and Kessler eventually was ruled out for the rest of the game.
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Charlie Whitehurst is Kessler’s backup. Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor also has experience at quarterback in case of emergency.
New England had built a 14-7 lead on back-to-back TD drives led by Tom Brady, who returned from a four-game suspension Sunday.
