Browns Sign QB Caleb Hanie, Starter Against Patriots Not Yet Known

Can the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation get any more depleted? After working him out last week, the team announced the signing of QB Caleb Hanie today, as they placed LB Brandon Magee on injured reserve in the process.

Here is how Cleveland's quarterback situation stands heading into this Sunday's game against the New England Patriots:

• Both Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell are still recovering from concussions and have not yet been cleared to play.
  
  
• After Campbell's concussion last week, the Browns signed Alex Tanney to be the backup to Weeden this past Sunday. Hanie tried out the same day that the team signed Tanney.
  
  
• After Weeden's concussion, the only available quarterback Cleveland had was Tanney, who has never played a snap in the regular season. Is the team willing to throw a guy like that right into a starting role, against the Patriots?
  
  
• Hanie only has four career starts, but he's been in the NFL since 2008 as a backup, mostly with the Chicago Bears. In fact, Browns fans should be quite familiar with Hanie. He has faced the Browns three times in the preseason, with combined stats as follows: 28-of-40 (70%) for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.

Hanie's four starts came in 2011 with the Bears. The Bears were 7-3 and amidst a 5-game winning streak when Jay Cutler got hurt, forcing Hanie into action. Chicago went 0-4 during Hanie's starts, as completed just 50% of his passes with 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He was a backup for the Broncos in 2012, and then spent this past offseason with the Ravens.

Here is the good news: if we have to deal with Tanney or Hanie, chances are that it will only be for this week's game against the Patriots. Campbell sounds close to returning, and Weeden might not be too far behind him. One of those two guys should be able to finish out the season against the Bears, Jets, and Steelers.

Rob Chudzinski should have more information on who might start this week's game against the Patriots when he holds his press conference Wednesday morning.