The Browns practiced again Thursday with Johnny Manziel leading the No. 1 offense, even with the team limiting Manziel’s throws early in practice due to lingering elbow soreness.
Josh McCown, who suffered a concussion while trying to dive into the end zone on the team’s first drive of the season opener, could be cleared to return to practice Friday -- and if he is, Browns coach Mike Pettine said Thursday, McCown will probably start Sunday’s game vs. the Titans.
“I don’t see an issue if (McCown) is cleared and practices fully tomorrow,” Pettine said. “I don’t see, barring anything unforeseen, a reason why we wouldn’t play him.”
This is normalcy for the Browns.
Manziel missed the final two preseason games with the elbow issues but was pressed into duty last week when McCown was forced out. He threw his first career touchdown pass on his first drive but turned the ball over three times in the second half of what became a 31-10 loss to the Jets.
Asked if he believed doctors would clear McCown, Pettine said he’s not a doctor but “we’re hopeful.”
The Browns signed Austin Davis last week as their third quarterback but didn’t make him active for last week’s game.
In August, Pettine acknowledged he was pleased with Manziel’s progress but said McCown remained “firmly” the team’s starter. We’ll find out sometime between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon if it takes more than a concussion to change that.