Frye’s the guy as Quinn develops

The rookie quarterback won’t start against Chicago tonight, but he’ll play.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Brady Quinn’s time will come, but it won’t be tonight.

While it’s unclear who will start the opener against Pittsburgh, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Charlie Frye will get the call tonight in the team’s preseason finale against the Chicago Bears.

Derek Anderson will follow him, and Quinn will go third.

“We’re going week to week and that could be the same for every position,” Crennel said. “I know the position is an important position because he’s ’the leader of the offense’ and Charlie has been that. But he understands the competition of this game. He understands that you have to prove yourself every day and every week. He’s up for the challenge.”

It’s a challenge that Quinn figures to win at some point. After slipping to No. 22 in the draft, the former Notre Dame star said he’s ready to make an immediate impact. He has backed that up in the preseason after missing the first 12 days of training camp in a holdout, going 20-of-31 for 236 yards. He has three touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I feel that I would love to be under center and play, or start, in the opener,” Quinn said. “But again, that is not my decision.”

Other issues

The Browns (2-1) have other issues besides settling on a No. 1 quarterback.

Two-time Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley went on the physically unable to perform list to give his surgically repaired knee more time to heal. And cornerback Gary Baxter, trying to come back after tearing both patellar tendons on the same play last season, lashed out at reports saying he had a setback after he missed practice last week.

Left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns’ top free-agent signing during the offseason, will miss his fourth preseason game with a sprained right knee, but expects to be ready for the season opener. Right tackle Kevin Shaffer (concussion) is doubtful.

The Bears have their own quarterback issue.

After botching two snaps and fumbling three times in all against Indianapolis, starter Rex Grossman he showed his good and bad sides in Saturday’s 31-28 win over San Francisco.

The good: Grossman completed 13-of-20 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Bears grabbed a 31-13 lead.

The bad: another botched exchange with center Olin Kreutz and an interception returned 52 yards for a touchdown.

While fans have debated whether Grossman or Brian Griese should start, a switch probably won’t happen anytime soon.