Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers November 20, 2016

Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler lays on the field after getting hit in the head by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons in the second half. He did not return to the game. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

(Joshua Gunter)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Hue Jackson can't stand watching his rookie quarterback Cody Kessler get drilled anymore.

In fact, he might advocate shutting him down for an extended period after Kessler suffered his second concussion in 29 days during Sunday's 24-9 loss to the Steelers. With five games left, that could mean the season.

"It's a possibility,'' said Jackson. "We'll see. I'm definitely going to talk to our medical staff because this is about a young man's career and future so we have to do the right thing."

At the very least, Kessler will most likely sit out Sunday's game against the Giants, who have won five straight.

The concussion could foil the Browns' plans to determine if Kessler can be their quarterback of the future.

Jackson said Josh McCown will start against the Giants if Kessler can't go. The last time Kessler suffered a concussion, against the Bengals Oct. 23, he sat out the following week against the Jets.

"(McCown will) go out there and I expect Josh to play well, and he will,'' said Jackson. "We have to go back and fix some things quickly for these guys. The players here at the Cleveland Browns are trying. They are busting their tails. I don't think anybody can question that, but at the same time, we're just not playing as good enough or it is not happening for us right now to where we get a chance.''

Kessler, who held the ball too long and was sacked four times in three quarters, suffered the concussion when linebacker Lawrence Timmons hit him shoulder-to-helmet after a third-quarter throw and knocked him to the ground. Linebacker Ryan Shazier already had Kessler in his grasp when Timmons launched. The hit angered left tackle Joe Thomas, who said it has no place in the game.

Jackson said Robert Griffin III, who hasn't yet been cleared for contact, won't be ready for the Giants. Will he want to risk playing him again this season with the protection problems?

"It's probably a little soon to discuss that until I know that he's back and playing, but we can protect better, and we will,'' said Jackson. "We can do a lot of things better. It's not just protection. It's running the ball. It's stopping the run. It is a lot of things that I think we can do better, and that is our charge. We have to go back and do that."

Josh McCown, who also took a blow to the head in the fourth quarter, is worried about his protege.

"Hopefully, he comes out fine and he gets back healthy,'' he said. "You just never want that for anybody and a especially a young guy in his first year.''