Connor Shaw is a roster move away from his first NFL start.
Browns coach Mike Pettine announced Friday that Shaw will start the season finale against the Ravens on Sunday. That decision is the expected one with Brian Hoyer out of practice all week with shoulder and bicep issues and Johnny Manziel on injured reserve, but the Browns still have to formally add Shaw to their 53-man roster from the practice squad to put him in the lineup.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that a deal with Shaw is in place to make that happen, so the Browns can concentrate on getting Shaw ready for Sunday. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said that he thinks Shaw will do well, although he allows that no one was expecting the rookie to play this soon.
“Connor’s going to get some experience that we really weren’t counting on,” Shanahan said.
The Ravens stand to benefit if Shaw doesn’t do as well as Shanahan thinks he will, although a win isn’t enough to get them into the postseason. They need the Chiefs to beat the Chargers and Kansas City will also be going with a backup in Week 17.
