The Browns quarterback will not play again this season, according to a source familiar with the injury, and may have surgery to repair the tendon on the last joint of the finger.

Quinn originally broke the tip of the finger hitting it on a helmet of a Buffalo player in the game against the Bills on Nov. 17. X-rays taken two days later revealed the small fracture.

Multiple doctors had presented Quinn with three options upon examining the X-rays. He could play through pain, immobilize it in a splint for four to six weeks or have surgery.

The injury worsened, said the source, by practicing for the next game and playing in the Browns' 16-6 loss to Houston on Sunday.

"Brady wanted to play," said the source. "If it was going to be fixed a week ago, it would have been virtually the same thing. Nobody had any idea what would happen if he'd just gone out and played with it. Doctors viewed it before then and thought he was OK to play."

Quinn played, making his third NFL start, and ultimately was yanked in the second half of the loss after throwing his second interception.

Quinn now is down to the latter two options and will decide today whether to have surgery after conferring with the team's medical staff.

"The finger's worse than it was," said the source. "They expect it to get fixed and be back to normal. It's just unfortunate."

The injury will have ramifications to Quinn's incentive-laced contract. It also will make Derek Anderson the starting quarterback for the Browns' final five games.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670