After leading the Browns to a 10-5 record, Derek Anderson was named the starting quarterback for the 2008 season, leaving Quinn on the sidelines once again. However, after a mediocre 3–5 start by the team, head coach Romeo Crennel named Quinn the starting quarterback for the Browns' upcoming game against the Denver Broncos. Though he played well, and helped the Browns build a two-touchdown lead into the third quarter, the Broncos rallied back to win, causing Quinn's first official start to end in a loss. However, he went on to win the next game against the Buffalo Bills, but he broke his right index finger on his throwing hand during the victory, and though he tried to play through it during the next game against the Houston Texans, he announced on November 25 that he would have surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the 2008 season.