Browns could name Johnny Manziel or Brian Hoyer starting QB by Tuesday
Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine told radio station 92.3 The Fan on Thursday that he could choose between Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer to be the team's starting quarterback as soon as Tuesday, according to cleveland.com.
Pettine said earlier Thursday that Hoyer will start the Browns' second preseason game against the Washington Redskins on Monday night, but Manziel will split first-team reps with Hoyer equally. The team then could make its pick the next day.
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"I'm sure we'll sit down at some point next week, maybe more than likely later in the day on Tuesday and get our heads together and see what we come up with," Pettine said.
Manziel was reportedly late to a team meeting Monday morning, but that indiscretion hasn't factored into Pettine's evaluation thus far.
While Hoyer entered training camp ahead of Manziel due to Pettine's preference to start a veteran over a rookie, and was listed on the first string on the team's initial depth chart, Manziel has been trending upwards in the competition, according to reports.
Neither player separated himself in Cleveland's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions last Saturday. Hoyer completed 6 of 14 pass attempts for 92 yards, while Manziel went 7-of-11 for 63 yards and added 27 yards on the ground.
The Browns open the regular season Sept. 7 at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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- Ben Estes
