Injury may open door for Frye

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From the Cleveland Browns website

Injury may open door for Frye

By Zac Jackson, Staff Writer

November 30, 2005

Charlie Frye got the snaps on Wednesday, and there's a chance he'll get them on Sunday.

Trent Dilfer's knee injury may give Frye his first chance as an NFL starting quarterback Sunday when the Browns host the Jaguars. Frye took all the snaps with the first-team offense Wednesday and will continue to do so until Dilfer is able to practice.

"(Frye) has been getting time with the starters all year - he just hasn't been getting much time," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "He (got) all of the time with the starters today. That will help his timing, confidence and the whole nine yards."

Frye made his NFL debut by playing three series against Miami two weeks ago. He played one play in last week's loss in Minnesota and was intercepted after he and Braylon Edwards had what all parties have termed a "miscommunication."

Frye, who's 6-of-12 passing for 58 yards and two interceptions, would welcome the chance to give himself a grade other than "incomplete."

"I think I've done some thing well but also made a couple mistakes," Frye said. "It's not a lot of time to judge."

"I think we need to give him a couple of consistent series to see how he handles those," Crennel said. "Maybe a full quarter. I think we'll begin to find out what he can do."

He might get more than just one full quarter Sunday. Dilfer took several shots to the right knee last week and said he's unsure when he might be able to return to practice.

Crennel said an MRI showed tendonitis in Dilfer's knee. He's officially listed as questionable.

"We'll see later in the week what his availability is," Crennel said. "If he can't move on Friday then it's going to be tough to think he can go out there Sunday and be able to move around and do the things he needs to do."

Crennel said earlier in the week Dilfer would start if he's healthy. And Dilfer, a 12-year veteran, doesn't need a full week of practice to be ready to play Sunday.

Dilfer said he would "let the coaches and the doctors decide" when he'll be able to return to practice, though he's anxious to get healthy and return to action.

"I have a commitment to my team, first and foremost," Dilfer said. "I'll do everything in my power to play. I'm not going to let pain or injuries get in the way of me fulfilling that commitment to them.

"Now, if it gets to the point where I can't produce at a level that helps them, you have to put your ego on the backburner and let somebody else do it."

If Frye has to start, Dilfer said he's confident the rookie will be up to the challenge.

"We're not overly complex (offensively) to where he has to do a lot at the line of scrimmage," Dilfer said. "I think we can win with Charlie if we have to. It may come down to that."