After the Cleveland Browns (2-7) loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (9-0) 31-10, head coach Mike Pettine refused to confirm Johnny Manziel as the starter against their next opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4).
All week, Pettine has said if Josh McCown was healthy enough, he’d be the starter Sunday versus the Steelers. McCown however, was limited all this week in practice due to his rib injury, leaving Manziel to take all the first team reps in preparation for a possible second consecutive start.
When coach Mike Pettine met with the media Friday morning, he wouldn’t provide a clear answer when he was asked who the Browns starting quarterback would be on Sunday against the Steelers.
“I won’t say I don’t know,” Pettine said. “It’s just from an information standpoint, we have our plan built to be either way.”
Coach Pettine refused to name a starter because he wanted to maintain a competitive advantage, according to Cleveland.com.
It appears now as though Pettine has lost that competitive advantage, because according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Johnny Manziel is expected to start this Sunday instead of Josh McCown. Whether it has something to do with McCown’s injury or if the Browns just want to get a better look at their second year quarterback, only time will tell.
If Manziel does indeed start Sunday, it will be his third start of the season and his second consecutive. Manziel won his first start of the season in a week two victory over the Tennessee Titans but lost his second start of the season in a week nine matchup with the Bengals. Manziel actually played very well in the first half of the Bengals game, keeping the Browns in the contest. Manziel’s numbers for the first half were impressive, going 11-of-18 for 128 yards with a touchdown and trailing by the score of 14-10 heading into halftime. The second half however, was a different story. The Bengals ramped up their offense and their defensive pressure, causing both Manziel and the Browns to falter and fade, and ultimately losing the game 31-10. The final stat line for Manziel reflected the score, as he finished 15-of-33 for 168 yards and a touchdown for the game.
The fact Manziel is starting doesn’t come as a surprise to his teammates, as several of them felt Manziel had done enough to earn the start.
“We’re so focused on preparation and with Johnny in there, we have to be preparing like he’s the starter,” right guard John Greco told Cleveland.com. “It was encouraging to see Josh (practicing) because you know he wants to be there. But I like where Johnny’s been all week.”
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