No longer part of the Browns‘ plans Denzel Ward Jersey Elite , Cody Kessler got passed to a new team.

Cleveland traded its former starting quarterback to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, the latest move for the Browns who have spent the offseason upgrading the team’s most troublesome position following a 0-16 season.

In exchange for Kessler, the Browns will receive a conditional 2019 seventh-round draft pick from the Jaguars, who were in the market to find a backup for starter Blake Bortles.

The 24-year-old Kessler had been in a steady slide down Cleveland’s depth chart after starting eight games as a rookie in 2016. But after the team acquired Tyrod Taylor from Buffalo, dealt DeShone Kizer to Green Bay and with the Browns expected to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, there was no room for Kessler.

Last season, he entered training camp as the Browns’ starter but soon fell behind Kizer and Brock Osweiler and wound up being inactive for 10 games. He appeared in three games Authentic Korey Toomer Jersey , completing 11 passes for 126 yards and was sacked six times.

Kessler’s tenure with the Browns began in mild controversy.

After the team passed on taking several other quarterbacks in the 2016 draft, Cleveland’s selection of Kessler in the third round drew criticism. Coach Hue Jackson tried to deflect the harsh assessments of Kessler by saying, ”Trust me” about the former Southern Cal standout.

Kessler wasn’t expected to get on the field as a rookie, but after injuries sidelined Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown, he was thrust into action long before he was probably ready.

Kessler showed toughness and some potential by passing for 1,380 yards and six TDs. But he was sacked 21 times and it didn’t help that the Browns lacked playmakers to help him during a 1-15 season.

Jacksonville represents a fresh start for the likable Kessler.

”We are excited about the opportunity to add Cody as depth to our quarterback position,” said Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell. ”Despite being just 24 years old http://www.steelersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-terrell-edmunds-jersey , Cody has already seen NFL game action and was very effective as a rookie in 2016, showing accuracy and efficiency in posting a quarterback rating of 90-plus.

”From our research and through getting to know Cody during the draft process, we know he is a smart, tough and competitive young man and we expect him to be a great addition to our quarterback and offensive meeting rooms.”

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AP Sports Writer Mark Long in Jacksonville contributed to this report.

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Injured star Evgeni Malkin was out of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ lineup for Game 2 of their second-round series against the Washington Capitals.

Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed about two hours before Sunday’s puck drop that Malkin was out for the third consecutive game. Malkin appeared to injure his left leg in Game 5 of Pittsburgh’s first-round series against Philadelphia and has not played since.

”We’re a better team when Geno’s in our lineup,” Sullivan said. ”Having said that, I don’t think our team looks for any sort of excuses. I think we try to rally around one another. It’s a next-man-up attitude, we have capable people in our lineup Cheap Customized Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys , it provides opportunities for others to play a more significant role and they want to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Malkin’s continued absence affords a bigger role for centers Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, and, combined with an upper-body injury to Carl Hagelin, keeps Carter Rowney and Dominik Simon in the lineup. On Saturday, it looked like Malkin could be ready to return; he participated in a full practice, skating on the fourth line and taking turns on the top power-play unit.

But Sullivan and Malkin both said the 31-year-old Russian would play only if he was ready from the first shift and was not limited to a minor role. Sullivan said Malkin did not experience a setback and could return for Game 3 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

”It doesn’t matter who’s in the game. You just did need to win the game,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. ”Obviously he’s a top player. There’s no question about it. It’s undeniable. But at the same time Authentic B.J. Hill Jersey , it doesn’t really matter.”

Malkin had three goals and two assists in five first-round games. Without him, the Penguins eliminate the Flyers in Game 6 a week ago and erased a two-goal deficit Thursday to take a 1-0 series lead on the Capitals.

The potent Penguins power play misses an important piece without Malkin, though it only got two opportunities for a total of 2:32 in Game 1.

”It was limited time, so it’s hard to evaluate whether or not we were able to have success, with or without him,” Sullivan said. ”We have capable guys. The people we have are very capable of being successful. We just have to find ways to have success if given the opportunity.”

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AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.

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