After being coy to the media about who would be under center for Week 9 play, the Cleveland Browns will be starting Johnny Manziel against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns are dealing with a lot of roster issues right now as they sit with just two wins on the season. With the future of the franchise up in the air at the moment, the Browns are trying to find any type of spark they possible can and now it is Manziel's turn to try and provide it.
According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, Manziel will be getting the starting nod as Josh McCown has yet to heal from a shoulder and rib injury. McCown has not been participating in practice and with the Browns playing on a short week head coach Mike Pettine did not want to take a risk. Instead, Manziel will make his second start of the season in hopes of getting another win and breaking the undefeated record of the Bengals.
Manziel is facing a tall task against the Bengals. The quarterback's first start of his career came against Cincinnati and the Browns fell 30-0. According to Pettine, Manziel has been progressing well and looks like a much different player.
"I think a lot of ground has been covered," Pettine said, via ESPN.com. "I think he's a different player."
With Manziel under center, the Browns are going to try and get the ground game working for the team. Pettine noted that they must do a better job of getting Duke Johnson involved in the offense and utilize his dynamic abilities. The running back has been rotating with Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin in the backfield. According to Pettine, Johnson is the player that can really change the game.
"Duke is a guy who has showed he can do some damage with the football," Pettine said, via the Plain Dealer. "I think that is on us as a staff to find more creative ways to get him the football, whether that is in the run game or whether that's in the pass game. He is showing to be the guy we thought he was."
In the short time Manziel has seen on the field, the quarterback appeared to favor Travis Benjamin as his primary downfield threat. That trend could continue despite the rise of Gary Barnidge on the team. This is the chance for Manziel to really try and revive his career. The quarterback has not had an easy season with an NFL investigation on his plate. A win over the top-ranked Bengals would certainly help save his future in the league.
