Browns to start QB Austin Davis; Johnny Manziel is backup

But when Manziel lied to his coaches about partying during the team’s bye week, Pettine chose to make a statement by demoting the former Heisman Trophy victor all the way down to third string.

The Cleveland Browns have announced that quarterback Austin Davis will start this week instead of Johnny Manziel, according to National Football League reporter Conor Orr.

Pettine said in September that the Browns took a “leap of faith” by keeping Pryor on the 53. “He was prepared, played well and put us in position to win”, Pettine said.

Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Josh McCown is out for the season with a fractured collar bone.

McCown has played with several injuries during his first season with the Browns, who signed him to a three-year deal in February.

Cleveland lost more than the match as starting signal caller Josh McCown injured his collarbone in the final period and left the game. Down 10 points in the fourth quarter the Ravens rallied and won the game 16-13 on Justin Tucker’s 47-yard field goal as time expired.

Unfortunately for the Browns, they’re still going to take some lumps.

“Make the decision for this week that’s best for the team”, he said. While it seems everything has gone the worst direction imaginable for Cleveland faithful, they may get a shot to watch fan favorite Terrelle Pryor don the Browns’ colors again before the year is over. McCown went down in the fourth quarter after taking repeated big hits from multiple Ravens players.

“Probably one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with”, Davis said of McCown after the game.

However, Pettine still left the door open for Manziel to start later this season. He was 3-5 as an emergency starter with the Rams previous year. The 6-foot-4, 223-pounder made a decision to switch to wide receiver last summer after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was a star quarterback for Ohio State and started 10 games for the Raiders. He has completed 170 of 302 passes for 1,953 yards with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has 627 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with one catch for 22 yards. He’ll be eligible to return to practice in six weeks.