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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...s-start-robert-griffin-iii-cincinnati-bengals

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns' final four games could go a long way toward determining the future of Robert Griffin III -- whether it's in Cleveland or elsewhere.

"It's all about being in the right situation at the right time," Griffin said Thursday after he was named the starter for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. "My job is to make sure that this is the right situation and the right time."

Coach Hue Jackson said he decided on Griffin -- Cody Kessler will be the backup ahead of Josh McCown -- because Griffin gives the team its best chance to win for the first time in 13 games.

But Jackson also said it's important to see Griffin so the Browns can garner more information before deciding if they should bring him back in 2017.

"It's important, but we want to make sure it's in the right context," Jackson said. "I think it's important that he's able to go out there and play well. Not just play. Play well. What I've seen in practice is that he's up to the challenge."

Griffin has not played since he broke the coracoid process in his left collarbone in a season-opening 29-10 loss to the Eagles. In that game, Griffin completed 12-of-26 for 190 yards with an interception and no touchdowns.

"I thought it was like I thought it would be, the first game," Jackson said. "Hadn't played a lot of football. Here he was, the first game in Philadelphia, on the road and it didn't happen as well as we would have liked. But the good part about that game that day is he was out there and played."

Griffin did not play a down in 2015 in Washington, which means that heading into Sunday he has played in one of his team's past 28 games.

"There was a lot of time that needed to be made up," Jackson said. "Hopefully we're past that. I can't tell you that we are. I can't tell you that we're not."

Griffin is due a $1.5 million roster bonus in March. If
the Browns want him to stay, they pay it. If they don't, he becomes a free agent.

Jackson said the more he can evaluate Griffin, the better it is for the team.


"I'm not expecting for everything to go perfect," he said. "You don't want to put that kind of pressure on anybody. Again, it's his [second] game in a little over maybe two years. So hopefully it will go right. But if it doesn't that's OK too.

"We got to go get him to play and hopefully play well. But we all understand the situation that he's in and that he's facing. But I think he's up to the challenge."

Jackson said that Griffin's durability -- he has had serious knee, ankle and shoulder injuries in his career -- will be an issue when the team
decides his future.

"Everything's weighed, and the most important thing about that position is availability," Jackson said. "You have to be available to your football team and you have to be out there. I think he gets that."