Johnny Manziel (hamstring) out for final game; Connor Shaw could start
With Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer both injured, rookie Connor Shaw could start the season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, coach Mike Pettine said Monday.
Manziel made his second career start Sunday vs. the Carolina Panthers, but exited after sustaining a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the 17-13 loss. Pettine ruled Maniziel out for next week's game at Baltimore, telling reporters that the hamstring injury is "significant" and a "several-week injury."
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports first reported Hoyer's injury, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com confirmed that Hoyer suffered a right shoulder injury on a seven-yard sack late in the game. He got up slowly and said that he couldn't breathe afterwards.
Pettine said that while he wasn't ruling Hoyer out yet, Shaw will get "a lot" of first-team reps this week and could start on Sunday, according to Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Pettine also said the Browns could bring in another quarterback.
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Shaw went undrafted in May before signing with the Browns. In his one preseason game on Aug. 18 against the Washington Redskins, Shaw went 8-of-9 for 123 yards and one touchdown. The former South Carolina quarterback was later released before signing to the Browns' practice squad.
Hoyer went 7-of-13 for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception in place of Manziel, who went 3-of-8 for 32 yards. Hoyer started Cleveland's first 14 games before he was benched in favor of Manziel before the Week 15 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
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For the season, Hoyer has completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 3,326 yards, 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 76.5 passer rating.
Cleveland has lost four straight and five of its last six since a three-game winning streak put the team at 6-3 entering Week 11.
- Mike Fiammetta
