With fellow QB Cody Kessler not practicing Thursday and still in the NFL's concussion protocol, the Akron Beacon Journal suggests that "all signs continue to point" to McCown (left collarbone ) starting Sunday's game against the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

While the Browns have yet to name their Week 8 starter, at this stage it appears as though the assignment will go to McCown, in the absence of him sustaining any setbacks at practice in the coming days.

McCown (left shoulder) has been cleared to play in advance of Sunday's game against the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

With McCown -- who was listed as a full practice participant Wednesday -- now cleared, he's a candidate to be the team's starting QB in Week 8. That said, the Browns don't plan to hand out the assignment until later in the week, giving them time to evaluated McCown at practice, as well as gain added clarity on the status of Cody Kessler, who remains in the league's concussion protocol.

McCown (collarbone) indicated that he is moving in the right direction with regard to being able to play Sunday against the Jets, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per the report, the veteran QB is in track to do more at practice this week, but at this stage he's not a lock to be a go in Week 8, though his outlook on that front could be bolstered by a favorable showing at practice in the coming days. Meanwhile, Cody Kessler is still trying to bounce back from a concussion, which leaves Kevin Hogan as the team's healthiest option at the position.

With Cody Kessler entering the concussion protocol, McCown (collarbone) could return as the starting quarterback for Week 8 against the Jets, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kessler has seemingly played well enough to retain the starting job, but he was knocked out of Sunday's game against the Bengals, which forced the Browns to turn to Kevin Hogan -- the team's fifth quarterback this season. McCown still hasn't been cleared to play, but if he does gain clearance this upcoming week, he'll presumably be ahead of Hogan. It is possible Kessler will be ready, in which case he'd likely get the start.

McCown (collarbone) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Cincinnati, the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCown was a limited practice participant for the second straight week, and he may need to log a full practice before he's cleared to play. Kevin Hogan will again serve as the backup to Cody Kessler, who had his most impressive game of the season last week, throwing for 336 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Browns nearly erased a multi-score deficit. Barring a complete meltdown in the next week or two, Kessler seems likely to keep the starting job even when McCown is ready to play.

McCown (collarbone) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to the team's official site.

EDGE Analysis

McCown's still not cleared to play -- and likely won't be until he has a full practice under his belt -- but he's inching closer, as this will be the second consecutive week he's been able to practice. Even when he is deemed healthy enough to return, the starting job may remain Cody Kessler's with the way he's been playing.

McCown (collarbone) still hasn't been cleared to play and coach Hue Jackson is unsure whether that will happen prior to Sunday's game against the Bengals, the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCown returned as a limited practice participant last week, but wasn't available as rookie Cody Kessler's backup Sunday versus the Titans. Although Jackson doesn't know for sure yet, he thinks that'll probably be the case once again this weekend against the Bengals. If McCown is indeed unable to cleared by Sunday, rookie Kevin Hogan would continue to temporarily hold down Cleveland's No. 2 quarterback job.

McCown (collarbone) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Tennessee, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cody Kessler (chest/ribs) was already named the starter for Sunday, but it previously wasn't clear whether McCown would be available as the backup. The 37-year-old returned to practice Wednesday and was a limited participant throughout the week, potentially setting him up to return for Week 7 in Cincinnati. Head coach Hue Jackson didn't commit to a starter beyond Sunday, which suggests McCown could take the job back if Kessler struggles. Kevin Hogan will serve as Kessler's backup this weekend.

McCown (collarbone) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice for the first time since going down with an injury in Week 2, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

McCown's broken collarbone was expected to keep him off the field for 2-to-4 weeks, so it's no surprise that he's back at practice after three weeks. Head coach Hue Jackson said McCown threw the ball well Wednesday but that Cody Kessler (chest, ribs) is the Browns' starting quarterback until he says otherwise. It remains unclear whether McCown will activated for Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the Titans, as it may take him more than a week's worth of practices for him to be game-ready.

Although McCown (collarbone) will return to practice this week, head coach Hue Jackson cautioned that the 37-year-old quarterback won't necessarily be available for Sunday's game against the Titans, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "McCown will have an opportunity to practice this week, and we'll know more about exactly where he is as we go through the week," Jackson said. "But he definitely will have a chance to go out there and practice. So I think that's encouraging. I didn't say that [he's been cleared to play Sunday]. But he can practice."

EDGE Analysis

Jackson also wouldn't commit to a starter for once McCown and Cody Kessler (ribs) are both healthy, assuming that actually happens at some point this season. The rookie seemingly has a better shot than the veteran to be available in Week 6, but their respective practice statuses will be well worth monitoring throughout the week. Adding to the intrigue, third-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst hyper-extended his knee at the very end of Sunday's loss to New England. The QB situation in Cleveland remains a mess, though one that should sort itself out in the coming days.