Browns preparing to turn to Manziel as starting QB for Week 2 in case McCown isn’t cleared

BEREA, Ohio Johnny Manziel melted down in the second half Sunday, but the Browns might not be able to avoid throwing him into the fire again.

The Browns will prepare Manziel to start this weekend in the home opener against the Tennessee Titans because fellow quarterback Josh McCown suffered a concussion Sunday in a season-opening, 31-10 loss to the New York Jets.

“I think that’s accurate to say when you have your starting quarterback in the 1/8NFL’s concussion3/8 protocol,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said Monday. “Even in an ideal situation that Josh would be back at the end of the week, we have to plan otherwise. He won’t be available, at least early, for practice. We’ll have to see how it plays out. But Johnny, early in the week, will get the starting quarterback reps.”

Pettine said McCown spent time studying game film Monday at team headquarters, which might be a good sign.

“Some guys end up very light sensitive from 1/8concussions3/8, so they can’t be in a dark room with a bright image projected on the wall,” Pettine said.

A source familiar with the situation said McCown felt good Monday. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

If McCown is medically cleared from the concussion Thursday or Friday, would he start against the Titans?

“We’ll make that decision then,” Pettine said. “We’ll just see how it goes.”

If McCown isn’t cleared for Week 2, third-string quarterback Austin Davis would serve as Manziel’s backup.

“Hopefully Josh is back and ready to go,” said Davis, who signed with the Browns last week after being waived by the St. Louis Rams. “I think that’s what we all want.”

Davis entered the preseason last year as the Rams’ third-string quarterback, though injuries pushed him up the depth chart. By Week 1, he made his NFL regular-season debut. By Week 2, he started. He went 3-5 in eight starts.

Now Davis believes he would be better prepared if summoned because of what he endured last season. He’s been cramming the playbook just in case he’s thrust into action.

Davis would welcome the challenge.

“It’s a process to get really good at this position,” he said. “I’m aware of that, and I’m nowhere near where I want to be. But you have to play to get there. So, of course, I’m ready to go play. Situationally, this would not be ideal, obviously. But you’ve got to take what you can get, and you’ve got to be prepared to play.”

Manziel entered the action against the Jets in relief of McCown with 14:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Manziel completed 4-of-6 passes for 93 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, and posted a passer rating of 149.3 in the first half. He ran twice for 9 yards and didn’t take a sack. The Browns trailed 14-10 at halftime after leading 10-7 late in the second quarter.

He didn’t fare as well in the second half. He completed 9-of-18 passes for 89 yards with an interception. His passer rating was 41.2. He also lost two fumbles. He ran three times for 26 yards and took three sacks. The Browns were outscored 17-0 after halftime.

Pettine said the game plan wasn’t scaled back for Manziel, even though he didn’t take any practice reps with the starters the week before the opener.

“I think the hardest position in sports is quarterback, and I would argue that backup quarterback’s even harder if you’re tossed into the game,” Davis said.

Like McCown, Manziel absorbed some big hits while scrambling. Former Browns cornerback Buster Skrine delivered one to Manziel’s right shoulder early in the fourth quarter as he ran for a 20-yard gain that was negated by penalty.

Pettine said Manziel, who had 35 yards on five carries, fled the pocket too soon at times.

“I think there were an instance or two where I thought he could have stuck with the read, and I think part of it is that he saw a gain in front of him and went ahead and took it,” Pettine said. “There were a couple I thought it was textbook. He got positive yardage, he slid down and we were ready for the next play. And then there were the few, the one for sure, that he took the real big hit on was unnecessary, especially in light of that Josh was already down for the game.”

In Manziel’s postgame news conference, he revealed his right elbow bothered him a bit against the Jets. He has experienced soreness in his elbow and forearm caused by tendinitis since his freshman year at Texas A&M University. The issue flared up Aug. 23, prompting him to sit out the final two preseason games.

Asked if Manziel made it out of the game physically OK, Pettine said, “He did. I think a little sore, but nothing specific. Arm-wise he felt OK.”

McCown was injured while attempting to dive into the end zone for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Adding insult to injury, he fumbled, and Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie recovered in the end zone.

Pettine doesn’t have any qualms about McCown sacrificing his body while running toward the end zone on third-and-goal at the Jets’ 14. After strong safety Calvin Pryor forced the fumble near the 3-yard line, inside linebacker Demario Davis struck McCown in the helmet midair near the 1. McCown spun and landed in the end zone.

“If he had hung onto the ball and not gotten helicoptered in and landed and we had won the game, we’re carrying him off the field in a good way,” Pettine said. “So it’s easy in hindsight to say 1/8he should have slid3/8 because we know the end of the movie, but that would be real difficult to try to coach out of him, say, ‘Hey, listen, don’t risk yourself.’ It was the situation. ‘Hey I’ve got a chance to score a touchdown here. It’s third down.’ If it’s second down, my guess is that he would’ve slid.”

Austin Davis said he would probably have done the same thing as McCown if faced with an identical situation.

“I think if you can pick a guy who would dive there and who wouldn’t dive there, I think you’d pick the guy that competes and tries to get the ball in the end zone,” he said. “We put a lot of hours into trying to put the ball in the end zone, so when you get a chance to do it, you’re going to take it.”

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