The Cleveland Browns are trying to remain as committed to Josh McCown as possible. The veteran quarterback has not gotten them the wins they were hoping, but the team is doing anything they can to remain committed to the quarterback despite his injury issues recently. While McCown continues to nurse a shoulder injury, the Browns are already prepared to name him the starter for Week 10.
According to head coach Mike Pettine, if McCown is healthy, he will start regardless of the practice time. The quarterback sat out Week 9's game against the Cincinnati Bengals as Johnny Manziel got the starting nod, but the Browns do not plan on handing the keys to the offense over to the second-year pro just yet.
"If he's ready to go and execute the game plan, he'll be the starter," Pettine said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
With the Browns sitting at 2-7, their season is likely a wash this year. That has left a lot of people to believe playing some of the younger guys on the roster would be beneficial to the Browns' upcoming offseason. Cleveland has yet to really build for the long-term and playing some young players would let the coaching staff see what they have in the roster for years to come. Giving Manziel another start would allow Pettine to make a decision on whether or not he is really the future of the franchise or not. However, according to Pettine, starting the younger players to evaluate potential would be a "disservice to other players." So for now, the Browns will continue with what they have been using.
McCown needs help from his role players and Pettine believes Due Johnson is the best to offer the momentum change Cleveland has. After releasing Robert Turbin, the Browns are all in on Johnson. Pettine said in order for the offense to be successful, they need to get the ball into the rookie running back's hands more.
"Duke's a guy that's shown he can do some damage with the football and I think that's on us as a staff to find more creative ways to get him the football whether that's in the run game or that's in the pass game," Pettine said, via the Plain Dealer. "But he's showing to be the guy that we thought he was and I'd agree with that. We need to get him the ball more."
While Johnson needs to get moving, so does Dwayne Bowe. The veteran receiver led the team in Week 9 and is looking to make a similar impact against the Steelers, but will the Browns let him? Bowe has been a healthy scratch for several weeks before getting the nod in Week 9 and making a big impact. With Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin also on the field, Bowe could be the favored target in Week 10. According to Ray Farmer, the Browns feel they have used Bowe in the right way all season regardless of his breakout game.
"Every guy that comes to the Cleveland Browns, it's a Browns decision. As we move forward, it is what it is. Dwayne is in the circumstance that he's in, and it's our job, as the Browns, to try and get Dwayne as many catches and opportunities as he earns and deserves," Farmer said, via WKYC.com.
