BEREA, Ohio -- As Tim Couch described the stadium swaying after he sustained his concussion, Kelly Holcomb, Cleveland's backup quarterback, hobbled into the locker room on crutches.

Meanwhile, third-stringer Josh Booty, who has suddenly moved up a spot on the depth chart, recalled making his pro debut -- with the Florida Marlins.

Quarterback controversy? Please.

The Cleveland Browns don't have enough healthy QBs to have one.

Couch, who was knocked out of Sunday night's 26-21 loss to Baltimore, was medically cleared to practice on Wednesday and should be able to play in Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Booty will be his backup, with Holcomb expected to miss at least the next three weeks.

Couch underwent some neurological exams and Browns doctors will continue to monitor him this week. Couch is concerned about taking many more blows to the head.

"That's what got Steve Young and Troy Aikman out of the game,'' he said. "It's a serious deal. You want to stay away from them. I'm probably going to wear a mouthpiece this week. I've never worn one before, but we'll see if that can't help prevent a little bit.''

Blocking Warren Sapp might help, too.

Couch acknowledged that his tearful -- and, at times, profane -- postgame criticism of Browns fans for booing, and then cheering after he got hurt, may have been a result of anxiety caused by his concussion.

However, Couch said he knew what he was saying. He's just sorry about the way some of it came out.

"I was totally in control of my words,'' Couch said. "I know I should have used some different words. I know there are a lot of kids in this city that look up to me. I take back that vulgarity, but I still meant what I said.''

Couch said he was worried that his comments may have caused a permanent split with Browns fans.

"I plan to play here for a long time so I was worried that I damaged that,'' he said. "I have no hard feelings toward them, and hopefully they can forgive me and get over what I said. But it's an emotional game and sometimes you get caught up in the emotions, especially right after you come off the field.''

Some Browns fans have already forgiven him.

The club said it has received several thousand e-mails and phone calls from fans wanting to give their support to Couch. As he arrived at the Browns' training facility on Wednesday, two fans were waiting outside the gate with a sign that said: ''2 of many who support No. 2.''

"It's been real encouraging and it's been surprising to me,'' said Couch, who sent a gift bag out to the fans who welcomed him. "That was nice to see.''

Holcomb said doctors have told him he'll miss a minimum of three weeks after breaking his left leg and spraining the medial collateral ligament in his knee during Sunday's game.

"I could probably tape it up and go out there if it was just the ligament,'' said Holcomb, who has a hairline fracture. "But a fractured bone, if it started cracking some more, then I'd have surgery and that would definitely be it. You can't mess with that.''

Holcomb was hurt in the final two minutes as he was rallying the Browns in the fourth quarter when Ravens end Michael McCrary hit him low and wrapped up his legs.

Gritting his teeth, Holcomb stayed in the game and nearly pulled off an upset before throwing an interception on the final play of the game.

"You get caught up in the situation and the adrenaline rush,'' Holcomb said. "It was a pain strong enough that I knew it was there. It was pretty intense but I've played with more pain than that before.''

The injuries to Couch and Holcomb nearly thrust Booty, the Browns' No. 3 quarterback the past two seasons, into his first NFL regular-season game.

Like a pinch-hitter, Booty, who started at third base for the Marlins on opening day in 1998, said he was ready.

"You never know when you're going to get your chance,'' he said. "I was almost in there. As the third guy, you are two snaps away, and now I'm one snap away.''

And with the Browns, that could be a snap from center or the snap of a bone.