Browns coach Mike Pettine isn’t through punishing Johnny Manziel for the decision-making that cost him his starting job.
The Browns just announced that Austin Davis will start for them Sunday at home against the Bengals, and that Manziel would be his backup.
“Austin took advantage of his opportunity on Monday night. He was prepared, played well and put us in position to win,” Pettine said in a statement released by the team. “He’s been great in the quarterback room all season and he has earned the right to start on Sunday. We expect him to play well.”
Davis was subbing for an injured Josh McCown in Monday’s loss to the Ravens, and was 7-of-10 passing for 77 yards. That included a game-tying touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin that might have been a highlight if the Ravens hadn’t blocked a field goal and returned it for the game-winner as time expired.
Davis started eight games for the Rams last year, but this one smacks of being far more about Manziel and his future in Cleveland than anything Davis has done on his own. McCown’s out for the season with a broken clavicle, and Manziel might not be far behind him.