Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown is cleared to return from a concussion suffered in Week 1 and will retake his spot as the team's starter, the team announced on Wednesday.
Browns QB Josh McCown to start over Johnny Manziel vs. Raiders
While Johnny Manziel led the Browns to a 28-14 win in Week 2, the starting quarterback role will remain Josh McCown’s now that he has been cleared to return from a concussion.
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“[McCown] earned the right to be our starting quarterback, ” head coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday. “We feel that he gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday.”
With McCown out of action, Johnny Manziel assumed the starting role for the Browns in Week 2 and led the team to a 28-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Manziel threw two touchdown passes and finished with a 133.9 passer rating, although he threw only 15 passes.
While the Browns insisted all along that McCown would be the team’s starter upon his return, Pettine admitted that Manziel’s performance forced the team to evaluate that decision further.
“That is a positive thing,” Pettine said on Monday when asked if Manziel forced a tougher decision on the Browns staff. “Johnny has made a lot of progress in the right direction. Still a lot of things to get cleaned, but we certainly feel like the arrow is up.”
McCown finished 5-of-8 passing for 49 yards in the team’s opener before he left the game and was replaced by Manziel. The Browns signed McCown in the offseason on a three-year, $14 million contract.
The Browns will play the Oakland Raiders in Week 3. The Raiders earned a 37-33 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but enter Week 3 with the most yardage allowed in the NFL.
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