The Cleveland Browns named Johnny Manziel their starting quarterback on Tuesday just two weeks after he was banished to the bench for lying to the team about partying.
Manziel reclaimed the job after Austin Davis started last Sunday in the Browns’ 37-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and passed for 230 yards with one interception. The Browns face the San Francisco 49ers this week.
“He’s been solid in the building over the last couple of weeks and we are hopeful he takes this opportunity to continue to build on the progress he’s made on the field throughout the season,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said of Manziel. “The goal for every game is to go out and win, and Johnny needs to show that he can put us in position to do so during these last four weeks of the season.”
Manziel was demoted after a video surfaced of him at a party in Austin, Texas, during the Browns’ bye week. He subsequently lied about his presence there to Browns coaches after he had just been named the team’s starting quarterback for the final six games of the season.
The second-year player’s last start came Nov. 15 in Pittsburgh, where passed for a career-high 372 yards in a loss. He has started three games this season and appeared in six, completing 76 of 128 passes for 933 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Manziel has added 73 yards rushing.