Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will start Sunday’s home opener against the Tennessee Titans, the team announced Friday.
First-choice quarterback Josh McCown left Sunday’s defeat to the New York Jets after suffering a concussion on the opening drive. Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former first-round draft pick, completed 13-of-24 passes for 182 yards with a touchdown, an interception and two fumbles in relief. He also rushed for 35 yards in the 31-10 loss.
Cleveland coach Mike Pettine had previously said the 36-year-old veteran would start ahead of Manziel if he practiced without issues on Friday, the earliest he could return according to the NFL’s concussion protocol. The team announced Manziel as Sunday’s starter before Friday’s practice was opened to the media.
Manziel’s third career start will come opposite Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, last year’s Heisman winner who threw four touchdown passes and recorded a perfect passer rating in his NFL debut, a 42-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Browns and Titans will meet at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday at 1pm ET.
