Aug 16 2015, 11:47 AMDan Wilkins

Cleveland Browns quarterback Connor Shaw suffered a thumb injury in Thursday's preseason game that will require surgery and force him to miss extended time, the team announced Sunday.

A decision on Shaw's status should come shortly after the procedure, but it's unlikely that Cleveland would be able to hold a place on the active roster or short-term IR for its third-team signal-caller.

"I feel for Connor because he has worked extremely hard," head coach Mike Pettine said in a statement. "He's a competitor and has had a great offseason and a good camp so far. He is good for the quarterback room and it's unfortunate that this injury won't allow him to compete."

If Shaw is placed on injured reserve, which would bring his 2015 season to an early end, Thad Lewis can be expected to earn the final quarterback spot behind Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel.

Shaw appeared in one game after joining the Browns as an undrafted free agent last season, completing 14-of-28 passes for 177 yards and one interception in a Week 17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.