The Browns have three days to prepare new kicker Greg Joseph for his NFL debut.
Coach Hue Jackson admits that dynamic poses a challenge with a Thursday night bout against the Jets fast approaching.
"It is, let's be honest," Jackson said on a conference call. "It's a quick turnaround."
Cleveland signed Joseph on Monday after waiving second-year kicker Zane Gonzalez, who missed 2-of-4 field goals and both extra points in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Saints.
That means the Browns will need to get Joseph, a rookie out of Florida Atlantic who spent the preseason with the Dolphins, up to speed fast.
Jackson believes he's up for the challenge.
"We felt real good about his workout, he did an excellent job," he said.
"A young player, he has got the chance hopefully to be very consistent as we move forward. We need somebody – he has a strong leg obviously too. So obviously he fits all the criteria that we're looking for in kickers. So we feel good about him, and obviously he has got to go do it."
Gonzalez, a seventh-round draft pick in 2017, struggled in two games this season. In addition to a shaky outing in New Orleans, he had a potential game-winner against the Steelers in the season opener blocked. Gonzalez made 17-of-25 field goal attempts and 28-of-31 extra points.
"We have to find someone that can put the ball through the uprights," Jackson said. "We've had this situation happen now for a couple of weeks. We have to keep searching and keep looking."
Joseph, who made 57-of-82 kicks in college, is Cleveland's third kicker in as many years.
Jackson said the Browns will use the next few days to "give him as much as we can" with the team's specialists in preparation for Thursday.
"We just got to work through it and get him as much time as we need to make sure they are on the same page," he said, "and see if we can get this young man kicking for us on Thursday night being successful."
