Browns coach Pat Shurmur hedges on whether QB Colt McCoy will play again

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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By Marla Ridenour (subbing for Nate Ulrich)

Browns coach Pat Shurmur wouldn't name a starting quarterback for Saturday's game at Baltimore, hedging until Colt McCoy
has been cleared from the concussion he suffered Dec. 8 at Pittsburgh.

Backup Seneca Wallace filled in for McCoy in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss at Arizona  and completed 18-of-31 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown for a passer rating of 91.6.

"I’m going to cross that bridge when they’re both healthy," Shurmur said. "Right now, until Colt’s healthy, we’re going to go with Seneca."

Asked if there was any thought to holding McCoy out because the Browns have seen enough to evaluate him, Shurmur said, "Get all our players back and then decide who plays. That’s how we do it."

Shurmur said McCoy was "day to day and improving," but would not say he had been medically cleared.

"He was in today," Shurmur said of McCoy, who's pictured to the right. "He's going along the same process to recovery that he was last week. He's better. He's improving.

"It's still too early to tell. I'll have more information on all the players tomorrow."

In his 16 minutes at the podium, Shurmur was pressed on whether there was any need to see more from McCoy, especially facing the Ravens and Steelers in the final two weeks. But Shurmur hedged and wouldn't say anything definitive. Browns players were off Monday, but will be back to work Tuesday with the schedule compressed on a short week.

Shurmur sounded pleased with the performance of Wallace, who was making his first start since Oct. 10, 2010 against Atlanta.

"I thought for the most part, especially early in the game, Seneca executed well and got us in the end zone twice," Shurmur said. "The first drive was really good, we found a way to mix it up with the run and pass. We had some possession throws and then a deep ball and we had some explosive runs. That's what you want it to look like the whole game.

"Throughout the game for the most part Seneca did a lot of good things."

Other injury updates from Shurmur:

• Linebacker Titus Brown has a "significant knee injury" and could be placed on injured reserve. "Looks like car 59 is done for the year," Brown wrote on his Twitter page. Shurmur said some roster moves would be made this week, with linebacker depth a top priority.


• Linebacker Ben Jacobs (concussion) was "better this morning."


• Tight end Alex Smith has a "significant shoulder sprain."