Brian Hoyer will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in their second preseason game this weekend over Johnny Manziel, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.
There had been reports last week that Manziel would get the start for the second preseason game, but head coach Mike Pettine refuted those reports. Pettine went further saying the first quarterback out there isn’t important because both Hoyer and Manziel will split reps with the starters.
I get the sense that the Browns don’t want to rush Manziel too much and put too much on his plate as a rookie and hope that Hoyer proves enough in camp and in the preseason games to make it an easy decision to name him the starter for the regular season opener.
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If, however, Hoyer does not improve on his so-so performance in the preseason opener against the Lions, the spotlight will be even brighter on Pettine as the NFL world wants to see Manziel for the opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Should the two continue to split the reps with the starters in the third preseason game, and Hoyer does not show a clear difference between he and Manziel, my bet would be on Manziel starting the opener.