Steelers QB Roethlisberger listed as questionable

At 2-7, the Cleveland Browns could use all of the competitiveness they can get.

Pettine said Manziel took most of the reps in practice Friday, since McCown is still nursing rib injuries.

Receiver Calvin Johnson is questionable for the Detroit Lions for Sunday’s game at Green Bay because of an ankle injury. He is passionate about all sports, but will only break things when the NY Giants are on. With a bye week coming up, it’s possible the Browns will give McCown another week to recover.

“This game is huge for us”, said Pettine, whose team beat the Steelers, 31-10, after losing 30-27 in last year’s season opener.

The Browns’ second-year coach is stressed to manufacture the slightest positive results from a season that began with the franchise establishing an National Football League record with its 11th straight opening-day defeat. XM subscribers get the game on channel 228 with the Steelers radio broadcast. It appears Pettine thinks keeping Steelers coach Mike Tomlin guessing as to who’ll start is one heck of a strategy. Manziel is without question the type of athlete that could lead the Browns in the future, but his time has to start now if the Browns truly want to find out whether or not he is that type of player.

Outside of QBs, the Browns have gone through almost as many head coaches throughout that time. “I think every coordinator is different. but you’d like to have that information as soon as possible”. “He ain’t fooling me”, Gipson told reporters. Either way, the Browns need to prepare for the draft yesterday and that won’t happen if Manziel doesn’t play. The belief was that in his second year (2015), the defense would start clicking on all cylinders, considering that is Pettine’s specialization. Instead, nothing has worked defensively. It’s been a snowball effect of negativity, and Pettine has not attempted to do anything semi-drastic to attempt to stop the bleeding. “I can’t put an amount on it, but he’s steadily improved through the week”. How well he plays will go a long way in deciding whether the Steelers can get a playoff berth. No, there is virtually no hope of that.

Due to the absence of concussed starters Joe Haden and Donte Whitner, Cleveland’s secondary has been revamped with Pierre Decir, Anthony Gaines and Justin Gilbert at cornerback and Ibraheim Campbell and Jordan Poyer, returning from a concussion himself, at safety. They have allowed only 28 points in the third quarter but they have given up 78 in the fourth quarter compared to 73 the entire first half. Jones should have a lot of short, safe passes, and that, along with the rushing attack, should make for a solid, yet not exceptional, offense.

Of course, at 5-4 Pittsburgh would prefer the sure thing.

The line: Pittsburgh -4.5 Smarts say: Cripes, this is also the exact same line as last week’s game.

Sunday’s game will be broadcast on CBS. Do the Browns have an upset in their system, or is this a game with too much against them heading into Heinz Field?

Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat out Wednesday and was limited in practice Thursday and Friday with a mid-foot sprain suffered Sunday.

The undefeated Bengals have boasted a high-powered offense and defense, which are both top five in scoring per game, and have had their already young and talented foundation step up even further this season.