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On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns announced that QB Connor Shaw suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery. The surgery will require him to "miss an extended period of time." The injury occurred during Thursday's preseason opener against the Washington Redskins, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer says that Shaw doesn't know when it happened:
#Browns Connor Shaw suffered a broken bone in the right thumb. Doesn't know how he did it, either fell on it or hit a helmet.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 16, 2015
Although the injury typically would not be season-ending, for a third-string quarterback, there is zero chance that the Browns keep him on their 53-man roster to let him heal for three months. It also seems unlikely that they would give him the "designated to return" label for injured reserve. I expect him to be placed on injured reserve as soon as possible, which would open up one more roster spot in camp for the team to sign another quarterback for the rest of camp. QB Thaddeus Lewis, who hasn't had the best camp, will firmly be No. 3 on the depth chart the rest of camp, but will not make the 53-man roster either.
All of this opens the door for WR Terrelle Pryor to see his roster odds tick up a little. He could serve as the third-string emergency quarterback and/or a scout team quarterback during the regular season, all while contributing as a receiver.