Browns quarterback Josh McCown will start against the Jets, head coach Hue Jackson said Friday afternoon.
"I know you guys have been waiting on me to say that," Jackson said. "Here it is."
McCown will make his second start this season after missing the past five weeks with a shoulder/collarbone injury in a Week 2 loss to the Ravens.
"I've said it before you want to be in this thing to play on Sundays," McCown said, "so it's really good to be out there, it's exciting. I'm looking forward to battling with the guys.
McCown passed for 260 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against Baltimore, which rallied past a 20-0 deficit to top Cleveland last month.
In that loss, McCown played through the pain of injury in an effort to give the Browns a chance to win.
"He just likes to play. Anytime you're a veteran player playing as long as he has, you're excited to have an opportunity to go back out there with his teammates," Jackson said.
"The last time he played, obviously we had a great chance to win the game and then obviously he got hurt but he showed tremendous poise and toughness. Hopefully we'll protect him and give him a chance to lead this team."
McCown, who was medically cleared to play earlier this week, should give Cleveland's offense a boost with rookie quarterback Cody Kessler still in the league's concussion protocol. Kessler, who has started the past five games and been productive in the process, suffered the injury against the Bengals last weekend.
McCown, who took over when Robert Griffin III was placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury, returns to a Browns team in search of its first win of the season.
"I'm excited to play with Josh, he's a veteran, savvy, smart, team leader," wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said Thursday. "I know he'll play his heart out."
