The Cleveland Browns were getting excited about Johnny Manziel. The quarterback returned for his sophomore season looking much improved and mature following an offseason rehab stint. Manziel was impressing in the preseason and many believed he would see the field as a starter at some point this year. However, an elbow injury is throwing plans into a frenzy as the Browns are being looked at as a landing spot for Robert Griffin III.
Manziel's elbow injury is cause for concern. The Cleveland Browns are holding the quarterback out right now with no timetable of a return. According to ESPN's Field Yates, Manziel has been dealing with elbow pain since college and has been managing it until it flared up recently and he was shut down from playing. According to the quarterback no surgery is needed, but the injury could be an issue for years to come.
"No, this is an injury that from everything that I've heard; no matter what the case, it wouldn't require [surgery]," Manziel said, via ESPN.com. "More than anything it's just sore, it's just a little bit of overthrowing, and making sure you're icing and doing what I need to do. Throwing during the year is nothing like it is during camp, so I'm very confident it's not going to creep back and there won't be other problems."
The quarterback position is area of concern for the Browns. Josh McCown has looked fine, but not elite at the spot and he is certainly not the long-term option moving forward. Manziel could be the long-term option, but chronic elbow pain is not what the Browns want to be hearing. According to Fansided.com, the Browns are a potential landing spot for Griffin either via a trade or free agency. There is no hard evidence that the Browns are seeking a deal with the Washington Redskins, but ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported there is trade discussions taking place around the quarterback as the front office and coaching staff seek to move on from him. Given the Browns' current situation, they are a potential team who could take a look.
The Browns will not make a single quarterback move this season. They will get a look at McCown and hopefully Manziel to determine where they need to go from here. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the Browns are already thinking down the road, showing interest in Michigan State's Connor Cook who is a highly touted prospect. That means they have doubt about the future and Griffin cannot be ruled out as an option.
