Browns add Austin Davis

The Cleveland Browns being the Cleveland Browns, they signed a quarterback.

The club announced they signed Austin Davis two days after he was released by the St. Louis Rams.

Davis will provide a tidy insurance policy behind declared starter Josh McCown and reliever Johnny Manziel, who still is nursing an elbow problem he acquired this preseason and that kept him from the Browns' final two exhibition games.

Davis started eight games for the Rams, who lost Sam Bradford in a preseason game at Cleveland last August, tossing 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the process. It was an overall superior showing than Manziel showed his team in 2014.

That long and fruitless search the Browns have been engaged upon in the last sixteen years is nothing new for those who follow them. Somewhere in the future lies that special someone who can lead the proud franchise to its former glory. Davis likely won't be that someone, but there's a better chance than not that he'll see the field in a Cleveland uniform. The Browns have started at least two quarterbacks since their 2001 campaign.

All that stands ahead of Davis is a 35-year-old veteran and a kid with a bum elbow.

Phil Taylor visits the Steelers

A former AFC North defensive tackle may be taking his talents to his former team's archrival.

Phil Taylor was released by the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday alongside a $5.477 million payday, a number that could rise should anything come from what a league source reported was a visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday.

Nothing else was confirmed aside from the visit and no other word has come forth as of yet, but with the recent condition of the Steelers' defense, an addition of this caliber could help.

A first-round selection four years ago, Taylor requested the Browns release him after the emergence of defensive tackle Danny Shelton, the team's first-round pick out of Washington.

Cleveland reportedly made no request that Taylor request a smaller amount of money to provide any offset in exchange for his release.

Manziel says elbow injury not serious

First, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said quarterback Johnny Manziel's elbow injury wouldn't keep him out of the team's rotation. The next day, he said Manziel would be shut down for the preseason.

Manziel hasn't thrown a football in more than a week, though on Tuesday he said publicly that the injury in question is only tendinitis and shouldn't keep him from action should he be called on.

"I'm not worried about it at all," he said, via Tom Reed of the Plain Dealer (Cleveland).

But it will keep him from the remainder of the Browns' exhibition campaign after Pettine said he would have taken most of the snaps with the first-team offense in their remaining games, last Saturday's game in Tampa, and their finale in Chicago on Sept. 3.

Manziel said this issue with his elbow has been around since his days at Texas A&M in 2011, but that it had always improved as training camp ended, as passers are called on to make far fewer pass attempts during the regular season. He added that his has sought a number of medical opinions for his elbow, including that of Dr. James Andrews, but that he has not been advised to have surgery.

That elbow may come into play if the Browns' master plan for Josh McCown doesn't come to pass. Should Cleveland find themselves under .500 in the first quarter of the season, Pettine will be immersed in calls to start Manziel, giving him the chance to re-establish his career after a poor showing over seven quarters in 2014. 

Is time running out for Terrelle Pryor?

Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor's hopes and dreams of keeping his NFL career alive may be slipping away from him.

Head coach Mike Pettine insinuated as much after Cleveland's practice on Saturday in Berea.

"That window narrows every day that he's not out there," he told Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, via Twitter.

Pryor, a natural athlete with tremendous potential, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and didn't appear in either of the Browns' preseason games. Coming back from that is a tough call for most NFL veterans, but for a former quarterback with little experience re-starting his career at a new position, it's that much harder.

The former Ohio State standout should heed the words of his head coach. If he doesn't get back into the fold sooner rather than later, and make a strong impression straight away, he could find all that promising work he put in during the summer offseason has been for naught.

Browns' Pettine: No quarterback controversy here

Josh McCown remains the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback despite his poor performance and reserve Johnny Manziel's good outing on Thursday night.

Cleveland fell 11-10 to the Bills, but the stark difference between their two options under center had head coach Mike Pettine reiterating the order of things at the position.

"I'm not going to sit here and talk about trying to stir up a quarterback controversy," Pettine said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Josh is firmly the one."

A 35-year-old veteran, McCown firmly completed two passes to the other team on 10 attempts Thursday and Manziel led the Browns on a 96 yard touchdown drive, going 6-for-7 before finding Shane Wynn for the 21 yard score to take what was then a 10-3 advantage.

The key play on the drive was a 37-yard toss for Darius Jennings after the pocket collapsed behind him and rolled left for the receiver trailing across the secondary.

"I think a 96-yard drive is better than the 30-yard drive we had," Manziel said afterwards, comparing his scoring drive against the Redskins last week. "So that was better. I felt like things were slowing down still. I was able to make some protection calls and get our guys lined up."

Though, if you ask Mike Pettine, that ease of play, and the sudden apparent closeness between the Browns' two starting options, may have come from the fact than Johnny Football was facing the reservists.

"We'd say it's possible," Pettine said in reference to Manziel closing the gap between he and McCown, "but I think most teams, that's a pretty good drop off from any starting unit, down to the twos. There's a lot of twos with the starters, as well, so there's an even bigger drop-off to what he [Manziel was] playing against. It gets factored in, but we'll see. We'll evaluate both guys."

McCown was himself evaluated by doctors following Thursday's game after leaving with a sore right ring finger, but X-rays were negative. 

Mike Pettine is left with two options: the veteran starter who looked bad against starters, or the second-year kid who looked good against the backups. He's made his decision.

Takeaways from Redskins' 20-17 win at Browns

The long and trying days of training camp finally played out in some real game time on Thursday night, when the Washington Redskins took to Cleveland to face the Browns. Gruden's Gang topped Manziel's bunch 20-17, but not without some sacrifices of their own.

Here are our observations:

- Tight end Niles Paul will miss the 2015 regular season after dislocating his ankle on the Redskins' second possession of the night. Blocking downfield on an Alfred Morris rush near the red zone, Paul got his left ankle rolled up on by a Browns defensive back, twisting his foot further to the left than Bernie Sanders. That's a tough break for this club. Paul was expected to have a breakout season after topping himself last year, adding 14 pounds of muscle to improve himself as a downfield blocker, precisely what he was doing when he got injured. The Redskins' tight end predicament gets much more perilous without him. Logan Paulsen is likely headed for toe surgery himself and Jordan Reed, though a brilliant receiver, is injury-prone and a below average blocker. 

- Robert Griffin III looked able enough at times, but some help would have been nice. He led two series on the night, one of which resulting in points. His would-be 61 yard touchdown to Pierre Garcon was brilliantly executed, the receiver splitting double coverage with nothing between he and pay dirt. That is, until he dropped the perfect pass as he tumbled to the turf. Overall, there was improvement. That patience his coaches have been seeking seemed to be there, the careful decision making. He converted a third-down with his legs when he had to, but was nearly intercepted on another. Overall grade: B+

- A pair of silly mistakes: cornerback Chris Culliver's pass interference and Andre Roberts' special teams fumble. Both of which led to the Browns' two touchdowns. Culliver was one of Scot McCloughan's landmark free agency signings, and he, along with the regular first-team secondary, weren't exactly inspiring against Josh McCown. Cleveland's 2,945th quarterback since 1999 (personal estimate), McCown went 5-for-5 on 33 yards and a touchdown against the Skins' stoppers. 

- The right side of the offensive line looked promising. Brandon Scherff, the rookie guard moved over from tackle, and Morgan Moses, the second year tackle and former guard, helped Alfred Morris to a 42 yard night and kept Robert Griffin on his feet. Scherff was beaten a few times to his right and Moses let a pass rusher all the way through from the right side of the formation to the left. But the quarter they started was overall a good showing, which paints a very favorable picture for stability on offense this season.

- For a guy going through his fourth preseason, up against the Browns' backups, Kirk Cousins better have looked good. He threw with confidence and moved well in the pocket, even scoring a touchdown himself on a zone-read rush when the Redskins were down 14-3.

Browns' Terrelle Pryor faces "tall task"

Terrelle Pryor knew he had to change something if he was going to have a career in the NFL. Being a quarterback wasn't cutting it as he had hoped, so this offseason he made the switch to wide receiver.

The change in position came with a change of address when Pryor joined the Browns. While his teammates and coaches have been supportive and open to his contribution, two members of his new team expect a hard road ahead.

"It's a tall task," Browns pass catcher Brian Hartline told the Plain Dealer. "I've been doing it for 10 to 20 years.

"He'll probably be successful," he added.

"It's going to be very challenging for him," safety Donte Whitner said. "We're not going to make it easy on him."

Hartline was Pryor's target when both starred at Ohio State in recent years, and Whitner, a Cleveland native, was also a Buckeye before being drafted in 2006.

Pryor has been serious about his transition, partaking in receiving camps all this summer near Pittsburgh with former NFL receiver Randy Moss and current Steelers Pro Bowler Antonio Brown. He also took reps with presumed starting quarterback Josh McCown to get their timing straight ahead of camp.

"I believe I can do this," Pryor told the Plain Dealer. "When I work out and when I train to do something, I don't do it just to be OK. I believe in my heart with my God-given ability that I'm going to be the best. That's not being arrogant or cocky. No one outworks me, so I believe in my heart if I put my mind to anything, I can accomplish it."

The Browns could use an accomplishment of any kind in the wide receiver department. Cleveland posted the second-worst overall corps in football last season, snagging an NFL-worst 12 touchdowns.

@MrJamesParks

Browns don't guarantee Josh McCown will start

There's been little question surrounding the quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns this offseason as the team started veteran Josh McCown, signed this February to supercede Johnny Manziel, at all the important reps at OTAs and minicamp.

Despite that, the presumed twenty-fifth man to start under center for this franchise since 1999 just might not start.

The same day head coach Mike Pettine didn't entirely rule out Terrelle Pryor, recently converted to wide receiver as he starts his NFL career over again, starting at the position, he also left the door open for recently rehabbed Manziel to snag the job.

"I don't think anything's changed," Pettine said, via ESPN. "The repetitions will be handled that way with Josh as the [No. 1]. I wouldn't say I'm guaranteeing today that Josh McCown is going to be the starter against the Jets. A lot can happen in preseason."

The scowls and shock that followed that statment encouraged Pettine to reiterate McCown's primacy as it stands going into training camp.

"From an experience standpoint, he [McCown] is that much further ahead," Pettine said.

Manziel has been working out this offseason with former NFL coach and current "Monday Night Football" commentator Jon Gruden. Mike Pettine admired that work ethic from his second-year player, calling it "nothing put a positive." But it would be hard to imagine any circumstance that finds Manziel completing passes for the Browns when the season begins.

But if McCown throws his fourth interception on Day 1, it's anyone's guess.

@MrJamesParks

Browns' Manziel working out with Jon Gruden

After a barnstorming tour of duty away from the field, and a lifestyle that at times rivalled Caligula, Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is trying to put himself on the right road. 

A stint in rehab and some solemn promises have been forthcoming, but as his head coach Mike Pettine said, actions speak louder than words.

To right his brief, yet already failing, NFL career, Manziel has been taking private practices with former head coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, according to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football.

"Gruden took a liking to Manziel before the 2014 NFL Draft and was effusive in his praise of Manziel," Campbell said. "Thus, Gruden is also motivated to help Manziel to get straightened out."

Last year, Gruden also hosted pro quarterback Josh Freeman to do some work in the film room and improve his throwing fundamentals.

Gruden spent 20 years in the coaching ranks, including two stints with the Raiders, culminating in a Super Bowl championship with the Buccaneers in 2005. Today, he's known as the color commentator on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" broadcasts and for hosting "Gruden's Quarterback Camp" for the network.

Manziel is looking at a likely No. 2 position with Cleveland this season after the team signed veteran Josh McCown following Manziel's disastrous rookie campaign. He passed for 80 yards and two interceptions against the Bengals in a shutout defeat, and completed three passes against the Panthers before leaving with a hamstring injury as the Browns' otherwise promising season collapsed down the stretch.

Cleveland opens their preseason when they host the Redskins on Aug. 13.

@MrJamesParks

Veteran QB Jason Campbell to announce retirement

When a 33-year-old man retires from any business, it's because he's done extraordinarly well, or was an unmitigated failure.

A bit of both could be said of Jason Campbell, who plans to announce his retirement following an eleven year professional campaign with five franchises.

Campbell, who declined offers from the Bengals and Ravens following last season, fell victim to that all-too-common NFL disease, being a moderately good talent that could have done something if he wasn't shackled to some legendarily awful teams. 

A first-round pick to the Redskins out of Auburn in 2005, he last started in 2014, throwing 19 pass attempts as Andy Dalton's backup with the Bengals. 

He spent five seasons with Washington, tallying 52 starts, before the arrival of Donovan McNabb, suddenly finding himself in Oakland. As per Raiders tradition, it went downhill from there. A six-game starting stint ended after he broke his collarbone in 2011, resulting in the eventual trade for Carson Palmer from the Bengals. He started a game for Chicago the following season and eight for Cleveland the year after, going 1-7 for the Browns.

He compiled a 32-47 career record in the professional ranks, tossing a respectable 87 touchdowns to 60 interceptions.

@MrJamesParks

Browns sign TE Housler

BEREA, Ohio - In a last ditch effort to add pieces to their patchwork offensive eleven, the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday announced the signing of tight end Rob Housler to a one-year contract.

Housler spent the last four seasons with the Cardinals, who selected him in the third-round of the 2011 NFL Draft from Florida Atlantic.

In that time, he collected 105 receptions for 1,133 yards and a touchdown. He will join Browns tight ends Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray, known for being blockers.

Cleveland lost pass-catching end Jordan Cameron to the Dolphins this offseason.

Johnny Manziel needs to earn Browns' trust

BEREA, Ohio - Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas has spent his entire nine year professional career in Cleveland, mostly on the receiving end of some miserable campaigns with the AFC North's perennial basement-dwellers.

He's seen a lot of quarterbacks behind him, too, and the one he played for most recently has caught his jaundiced eye.

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, still in voluntary rehabilitation from his off field lifestyle, has been in Thomas' sights lately, and he doesn't like what he sees.

"I think he's going to have to prove to the team that football is important and being 'the man,' being the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is important, it is his goal, his single goal in his life," Thomas told ESPNCleveland.com.

Manziel admitted himself into rehab on Jan. 28th, and has been cut off from all social media, and by extension the whole world, an isolation so prodigious that ESPN's Chris Mortensen said that the Browns had "90 percent moved on" from him in the meantime.

A conclusion that seemed all the more likely when the Browns signed quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year deal on Feb. 27th after trading away hometown product Brian Hoyer to Houston.

Thomas said any trust in Manziel from his teammates was a scarce commodity early on.

"You know, I think he lost probably a lot of trust among the guys on the team last year by the way he handled himself once he became the starter," Thomas said. "And I think he had a lot of time to reflect, I'm guessing, after the season was over by the comments he made in the media and by his actions, checking himself into rehab. I think those were positive steps."

Though the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Manziel was still enrolled in treatment, he was seen recently on a golf course in Shreveport, La., with his father. ESPN reports he is allowed to take occasional trips with his family under the program.

Thomas said he has little faith in guys saying they'll reform themselves and wants to see action.

“Yeah. Everyone wants to talk the good talk in the media, and that includes [embattled wide receiver] Josh Gordon, but it’s your actions that really are telling to your teammates about if you really mean what you say,” Thomas said.

"Obviously, there's some uncertainty with Johnny right now and that's why we brought in Josh [McCown]," Thomas said. "He's a guy that if he's asked to carry the flag this year, he's going to do a great job. There's a chance we draft somebody or there's a chance Johnny comes back and he's a new person and he's rededicated to football, and he turns into the great quarterback that we expected when we drafted him in the first round."

Browns QB Josh McCown feels Cleveland's pain

BEREA, Ohio - Running true to their awkward tradition since returning to the league in 1999, the Cleveland Browns on Friday signed another quarterback to their fledgling eleven.

Josh McCown, the latest name to be added to a long and beleaguered lineage, on Sunday told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that he knows how people may be confused by his signing.

"I get it," he said. "I understand people's perceptions of me. I don't back off it or shy away from [his 1-10 record last season with Tampa]. I understand people's frustration. But my mindset is to come in here, grow, and improve as a football player, and help this team win football games."

Winning football games looked to be a surprisingly pleasant fate last season for the Browns, who, behind hometown signal caller Brian Hoyer, jumped out to a 6-3 record and the first-place spot in the AFC North before a 1-6 collapse down the stretch, being outscored 167-88.

The addition of McCown, and a three-year, $14 million contract ($6.25m guaranteed), likely spells the departure of Hoyer, who on March 10 will become a free agent.

"I met Brian a few years ago at a workout for the Giants and I was impressed with him and I've rooted for him from afar especially with what he went through a couple of years ago with the knee and to come back this year," McCown said. "I love stories like that. It's awesome. I'm a fan of Brian and I like his work ethic. It's been a great story of him playing right there in his hometown."

McCown also spoke to the example he hopes to bring to backup Johnny Manziel, still currently in rehab.

"Johnny is a person," he said, "and every person that I come across has value to me and they matter, and so I want to help him as much as I can with all parts of it, but to grow as a person and as a player and to help him go on and have a fruitful career.

"Just life in general is too short to go through it alone or just looking out for yourself all the time," he said. "So if you can give up yourself to others to help someone else in their journey, I just think you'll find so much more peace in life. So that's my approach when I head into a quarterback room. It's just what can I give back to the guys around me to help us be better? Because ultimately it's going to help our team."

The 35-year-old Texas native had visited with the Jets, Bears, and Bills, and was negotiating with Buffalo and Cleveland before signing with the latter. 

"I just want to serve our team and help everybody in that locker room, do my best to help everybody in the locker room be better at their job, and they're going to help me, too," he said. "I'm just excited about coming in and being a part of a team."

McCown was responsible for 18 turnovers last season with the Buccaneers, tossing 14 interceptions, though in 2013 with the Bears, added 13 touchdowns and only one pick. 

In a 12-year career, he has 61 touchdowns and 59 interceptions and a 17-32 record.

Browns sign QB Josh McCown

BEREA, Ohio - Quarterback Josh McCown and the Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms on Friday for a three-year deal, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.

The team and McCown's agent, Mike McCartney, both confirmed the signing on Twitter.

McCown was released from Tampa after a poor season, throwing 14 interceptions against 11 touchdowns in a one-win campaign for the Buccaneers, though showed more promise two seasons ago as the stand-in for Jay Cutler in Chicago.

The signing will create a competition between the 36-year-old veteran and Johnny Manziel, and also makes it less likely that the Browns will sign Brian Hoyer, who in two seasons went 10-6 for them, as the Cleveland native is set to become a free agent on March 10. 

McCown was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft from Sam Houston State, going 17-32 overall, tossing 61 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

Browns reach out to Ted Ginn

BEREA, Ohio - Recently released from the Cardinals, receiver and kick returner Ted Ginn is reportedly fielding an offer from his hometown Browns, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Cleveland ranked 28th last season in their return game and have reached out to the representatives of Ginn, a product of the city's renowned Glenville High School and Ohio State.

Browns safety Donte Whitner, also a Cleveland native and OSU teammate of Ginn, told Northeast Ohio Media Group that head coach Mike Pettine texted him on Wednesday that Ginn would be interested in a hometown reunion.

"He [Pettine] said it's definitely a consideration," Whitner said. "There may be something to it. Hopefully, it will happen."

Ginn played for his father at Glenville, who, said the Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot, spoke with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards in January, an event he attended with Glenville and Ohio State product Cardale Jones.

"I think it would be a natural fit and I think it would give our fan base another big boost from a hometown guy like Teddy, who played at Ohio State, who played at Glenville High school, who's a Cleveland native,'' said Whitner. "And I think it would give him a boost also, playing in front of his friends, and family and fans that grew up watching him, so I think that would be a big career boost for him also. I'm hopeful that it happens.''

Ginn has 2,794 career yards on 211 receptions and 11 touchdowns with Miami, San Francisco, Carolina, and Arizona.

Browns: QB Mike Glennon being considered

BEREA, Ohio - Mike Glennon is being sought out to become the 22nd starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns since their 1999 resurrection, according to reports.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the Browns were looking around for a future passer even before rookie Johnny Manziel entered rehabilitation, and that two unnamed sources noted that the team "at least sniffed around" the second year Buccaneers quarterback.

Bucs head coach Lovie Smith said the team was committed to Glennon, though with the first overall pick in April's draft are expected to draft a quarterback.

Glennon went 117-of-203 passing for 1,417 yards, adding 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last season.

The future of Cleveland's two present quarterbacks is unstable at best: Manziel is still away for personal problems and Brian Hoyer will likely become a unrestricted free agent.

Browns: new uniform changes imminent

BEREA, Ohio - One of the more traditional looks in the NFL will be undergoing more alterations, as the Cleveland Browns announce "more radical" changes to be debuted on April 14, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Browns unveiled slight tweaks to the color and font of the team's historical logo this week, though team president Alec Scheiner hinted the coming changes to the uniform will be more drastic.

"I do think we'll move the uniform farther ahead than the logo," Scheiner told Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer. "We were very respectful of the logo, and I think our fans have given us permission to move forward quicker with our uniforms."

Scheiner said the orange on the uniform will be bolder, like the new helmet color, and the face masks will be painted brown, an addition "that provides a tougher edge. . . characteristics that depict the team and its fans," he said.

"We're excited about [the new changes]," Scheiner added. "Once again, what's important is we push ourselves forward, match the energy and forward-thinking of the city, but link to our tradition and respect our tradition which is an incredible tradition."

Browns take 10-3 lead on Ravens

BALTIMORE - The third quarterback is the charm.

Connor Shaw is 10-of-15 for 151 yards as the Cleveland Browns lead the Baltimore Ravens 10-3 in the third quarter on Sunday.

Shaw's 49 yard toss to Taylor Gabriel brought Cleveland to the Ravens 2 to set up Terrance West's rushing score for the lead.

Shaw, the team's third signal caller this season after Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel were lost to injuries, led the Browns over 80 yards in seven plays for the three-point advantage.

Browns: Connor Shaw will start

BEREA, Ohio - Rookie quarterback Connor Shaw will start for the Cleveland Browns when they meet the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Shaw, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, was signed to a multi-year deal this week from the Browns' practice squad, for which he played over 16 weeks.

"It was a good week of practice and I had a lot of support from coaches and teammates and I'm confident going into this game with the game plan. We'll see what happens Sunday," Shaw told the Akron Beacon-Journal.

Starter Brian Hoyer did not practice this week after leaving with a shoulder and bicep injury sustained during a sack last Sunday at Carolina. Johnny Manziel was lost for the season in that contest after leaving with a hamstring injury head coach Mike Pettine described as "pretty serious".

"This is a dream come true if I'm able to start and able to play," Shaw told the Beacon-Journal. "I'm excited about it."

Cleveland (7-8) enjoyed a resurgence this season under Brian Hoyer, eventually playing to a 6-3 record and playoff contention from the competitive AFC North before suffering a four-game losing streak.

Shaw last saw the field professionally in the team's Aug 18th preseason matchup at the Washington Redskins, the game in which Manziel saw his first action as a pro.

He will be the 22nd starting quarterback for the Browns since their re-formation in 1999. 

Browns: Manziel out, Hoyer hurt

BEREA, Ohio - Johnny Manziel is out and Brian Hoyer is day-to-day for the Cleveland Browns when they host the Baltimore Ravens in their season finale on Sunday.

Manziel sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Browns' 17-13 loss at Carolina yesterday.

"The hamstring was pretty significant," head coach Mike Pettine said afterwards, also calling it a "several-week injury."

Hoyer relieved Manziel in that game, going 7-for-13 on 134 yards, tossing an 81 yard touchdown to Jordan Cameron that gave the Browns a brief 13-10 lead.

Though his right shoulder was injured on a 7 yard sack and left the field slowly, complaining afterwards of breathing trouble.

Manziel went 3-of-8 for 32 yards in that contest, his second start for the Browns, his first ending in a 30-0 shutout at the hands of Cincinnati.

South Carolina rookie Connor Shaw has been called up from the team's practice squad and will take reps with the first team in practice. Should Hoyer not be ready Sunday, Shaw will get the start.

Cleveland (7-8) lost their last four games and five of their last six after entering that stretch with a 6-3 mark and their sights on a postseason berth from the competitive AFC North.