Getty Images

The Browns are sticking with Cody Kessler as their starting quarterback when they head to Baltimore on Thursday night, but coach Hue Jackson would like to see something different from the rookie this week.

Kessler has thrown 16 passes of more than 20 yards in his six starts and he’s completed just four of them, which is far worse than his overall completion percentage of 67.5 this season. Hitting on those shorter passes isn’t putting enough points on the board, though, and Jackson wants to see that change over the second half of the season.

“Are you asking do I want to see the ball go down the field more? Yes, I do. It needs to,” Jackson said, via Cleveland.com. “That’s the way we score more points. Cody’s done a good job of distributing the ball and he’s done a good job of putting the ball in the right places for the most part, but he knows now that in the NFL you have to take a few more chances to score points because the defenses are too good. We have to always stay aggressive and push the ball when we can because it gives us a chance to have big plays and make big plays.”

If Kessler is able to find more success throwing long, it would help his chances of being a long-term starter in the NFL and there’s little reason for the Browns not to try because the rest of this year has to be about finding players who can be that. If you’re looking for reasons to believe it can happen, Kessler has only played one game with Corey Coleman and the rookie wideout’s return to health alongside Terrelle Pryor could open up more options in the weeks to come.