CLEVELAND -- Josh McCown was a man of few words shortly after the Cleveland Browns' painful 25-20 home-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
How are your left shoulder and arm, the quarterback was asked.
"It is all right," he said. "I just fell on it a few times. I'll be all right, though."
Did X-rays show anything?
"I'm going to defer all those questions to the medical staff," he said. "They will take a look at them and let me know what they find out."
Can you play next week in Miami?
"That is my plan," he said.
However, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that McCown's shoulder injury sounds like something more serious than soreness or a bruise. McCown will undergo an MRI on Monday on his shoulder, sources told ESPN, confirming a Cleveland Plain Dealer report.
McCown played in place of Robert Griffin III, out for a minimum of eight games, and late in the first quarter, McCown left for the locker room to have his left shoulder examined. At that point, his return was described as questionable.
McCown returned for the Browns' first possession of the second quarter and did not miss another play -- although at times, it appeared he might have to.
Several times after being hit, McCown grimaced. At one point, it seemed he might not be able to return, but he did.
The scene was reminiscent of last season, when McCown tried to play through broken ribs. McCown eventually missed two games, returned and was lost for the season with a broken left collarbone.
McCown said his plan is to play Sunday in Miami. But that's the same thing Griffin said after the season opener, that he planned to play.
The Browns face the very real possibility that they will start three different quarterbacks in their first three games.
As of Sunday evening, McCown and rookie Cody Kessler were the only two quarterbacks on the roster. Rookie Kevin Hogan is on the practice squad. Going into a game with Kessler and Hogan seems risky, but not a lot riskier than going in with Kessler and a player signed off the street during the week.
The options on the street are not great. Michael Vick is available, and Aaron Murray is on the Eagles' practice squad. Names such as Matt Flynn, T.J. Yates, Charlie Whitehurst, Tarvaris Jackson and Jimmy Clausen also might circulate. And the Browns could try the long-shot move of talking Jason Campbell out of retirement; Campbell played for coach Hue Jackson in Oakland.
But with Jimmy Garoppolo injured and Tom Brady suspended, the Patriots also are looking for a quarterback, so the Browns would have competition for the top free agents.
The Browns might need to add someone with experience no matter McCown's status. The thought of two rookies behind an injury-prone starter is not exactly comforting.
There is one truth: If McCown is able to play, he will.
"I have a dad and an older brother who get up and go to work, and sometimes they don't feel great and they go," said McCown, 37. "They go and they grind.
"I have two little boys that are playing football now. They get hit and they get banged up, and I am trying to teach them what toughness means.
"For me, it is those things and just knowing the window for me right now and understanding that I don't want to miss snaps. I don't want to be out there without my guys. Unless it is going to fall off, let's try to make it work and make it go.
"That is my mentality."