Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer will be the starter for the Cleveland Browns when they take on the Minnesota Vikings in London, England on Sunday.
So far this season, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense has faced a wide variety of opposing quarterbacks. From some of the NFL’s best signal callers in Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, and Ben Roethlisberger, to lesser experienced quarterbacks in Mitchell Trubisky and Brett Hundley, the Vikings’ defense has seen both extremes of the spectrum already this year.
This week, Minnesota will be going up against a rookie signal caller for the second time this season when they take on the Cleveland Browns. On Wednesday, the Browns officially declared rookie DeShone Kizer as their starting quarterback for this Sunday against the Vikings.
As is the tradition with Cleveland quarterbacks, Kizer has struggled mightily in 2017. In his very first NFL season, the rookie has only completed 52 percent of his passes for 965 yards, just three touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
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Kizer has shown some of his athletic ability at times this year, as he has rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts.
The rookie will have a tough task this week when he faces a Minnesota team that has the fourth most sacks in the NFL (21) and the league’s seventh-best pass defense in terms of yards per completed pass.
Over the past three weeks, the Vikings’ defense has four interceptions and has not allowed an opposing quarterback to throw for more than 186 yards. Minnesota also has 10 sacks during this same time period.
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Based on Kizer’s previous production this season and the recent terror that the Vikings’ defense has caused for opposing quarterbacks, it does not seem likely that the rookie will go off and have a career day this week. Stranger things have happened in the NFL, but Minnesota should feel pretty good about facing Kizer on Sunday.