BEREA, Ohio -- In his first game back from his one-week benching, Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer stepped up Friday and called a players-only offensive meeting in preparation for Sunday's game against the Titans.

"As I said earlier this week, it's about doing more, and that's just a small thing that we can add into the week,'' Kizer told cleveland.com. "It's something that I think can allow us to just open up the communication line and make sure they understand what I'm thinking and make sure I understand what they're thinking.''

Kizer said with the 0-6 Browns losing three of their games by only three points, any little thing might help.

"Maybe that's the separator in a game where we were able to discuss something on Friday that we hadn't discussed all week that can allow them to get one extra step on a defender that we can be able to complete some passes,'' he said.

Kizer came up with the idea this week when thinking of ways he could step up as a leader of the team.

"After sitting last week, it was something I thought we'd benefit from,'' he said. "Yesterday there was a couple of things I wasn't able to meet with them about individually, so if I figure if I can bring them all together and have them all listen to it at the same time, it would be all right.''

Kizer determined that his teammates should hear some things from him instead of just the coaches.

"It's just making sure that we can discuss the necessary things that go into completing passes, things we talk about every week, just making sure it's coming from me,'' he said. "It's a new perspective for some of these guys who are obviously new to this program and this organization. Maybe it sits a little better coming from me so we have a little more confidence going into Sunday.''

Kizer said it's customary for several players to speak on Friday during a captain's meeting, but during the special offensive meeting that he called, "I was the only guy.''

Teammates such as fellow rookie David Njoku said they were happy that Kizer took the initiative.

"It's not easy especially in our position where we are right now,'' the tight end said. "It's shows his courage and his maturity. To come into an NFL locker room and call a meeting, it's big-time and I'm excited. He's ready to turn this around and I'm 100 percent fully behind him.''

Njoku said Kizer handled the benching extremely well, and it inspired him to take on more of a leadership role.

"He watched and learned from a different point and I think it made him better,'' said Njoku. "A bunch of people would give up and say 'OK, let's work for next year.' But he's focused on the right now and that's what matters for us, and we really appreciate that.''

He said Kizer talked for about 10-15 minutes and it made an impact on his teammates.

"Kizer is a beast,'' Njoku said. "I tell everybody that because I truly believe that and he shows it. He's maturing every day, and obviously being a rookie, quarterback is probably one of the hardest things you can do. He's taking big, big steps and I'm really excited to see how he progresses.''

Njoku said the offense emerged from the meeting "closer as an offense, as a group. I think we're all on the same page a little more, so I think it will be a fun game for us.''

Fullback Dan Vitale also said Kizer showed a lot by putting himself out there.

"After he spent a week where he watched from the sidelines and now that he's back in, it gave him a chance to kind of look back and kind of reflect on mistakes he's made or mistakes we've made as an entire offense,'' said Vitale. "He talked about how we're going to go about fixing that and what we can do for him to help him, and how he's going to try and help us.''

A second-year pro, Vitale said it spoke to Kizer's quick development this season.

"I just saw a lot of growth in him just as a professional from that aspect, which is obviously very good to see and very exciting to see from a kid who's so young,'' said Vitale.

Like Njoku, Vitale said Kizer sent a strong message to the team by the way he handled his benching.

"He took it as an opportunity to learn to make some changes and not just sit there and pout,'' said Vitale.

Vitale said the speech made him want to dig even a little deep on Sunday against the Titans to support Kizer and end the winless streak.

"Obviously we haven't had the success we've wanted here, but this is that point now where it's now or never," he said. "When you've got a kid who's as young as him who wants to succeed as bad as he does, it's exciting for all of us and gets us all going.''