The Cleveland Browns have been practicing Johnny Manziel started getting first team reps, as the team evaluates their quarterback situation. On Tuesday he got first team reps again, and had his finest practice yet.
From ESPN Cleveland:
"Maybe Tuesday will be regarded as the day the light went on for Johnny Manziel. Or maybe for the entire offense as a whole. Manziel had his finest practice throwing the ball, and so did Brian Hoyer. Both quarterbacks had different periods with the first-team offensive line, but Hoyer definitely received more reps with the starters as the practice went on, a tip-off that he will start the preseason opener in Detroit on Saturday. According to ESPNCleveland’s Jason Gibbs, Manziel completed 15 of 27 passes in 7 on 7 and team drills – his highest completion percentage of camp in a week. In one sequence, Manziel completed four consecutive passes – one to the left, one to the right and two over the middle."
Head coach Mike Pettine said they’d still continue to alternate first team reps and will make a decision about who will start Saturday in the preseason opener in Detroit.
“(They’ll) probably (alternate) more day-to-day at this point,” said Pettine, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I don’t think we’ll do this for the entire week, and then we’ll meet at some point midweek to discuss how we want to handle the reps in the Detroit game.”
He did suggest that Hoyer is still ahead in the race.
“I would still say that’s true, but I can’t say it’s 100 percent at this point,” he said. “But I would still say there’s a more than reasonable chance (Hoyer) will be the starter against Detroit. That had been the plan, I just want to confirm with (quarterback coach Dowell Loggains and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan) and see where they are with it.”