Browns starting quarterback Josh McCown threw an interception on the team’s first two drives, then led a field goal drive to end the first half in a preseason game against the Bills Thursday night.
After the game, McCown was taken to the X-ray room in First Energy Stadium to have his right ring finger X-rayed. That X-ray came back negative, the team later confirmed, but McCown told reporters the finger on his throwing hand was “sore” and he wasn’t sure how he injured it or if he would need further testing.
If McCown has more than soreness and/or swelling in his finger, time is on his side. The Browns return to practice this weekend but don’t play their third preseason game in Tampa Bay until Aug. 29.
Johnny Manziel led a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter Thursday against the Bills backups. Though Manziel has shown improvement this summer, the Browns have remained firm that McCown, who signed with the team last February, is the starting quarterback.
McCown called Manziel’s 96-yard scoring drive “awesome” but said he’ll continue to prepare as the starter and a mentor to the 22-year-old Manziel.
“Until told otherwise, my preparation will be the same as it has been,” McCown said. “I am getting ready to go down to Tampa, and hopefully, depending on how long we play or whatever the situation is, go out there and really get revved up (for) kind of the last time before the opener.”
After the game, Browns coach Mike Pettine called McCown “firmly the one” in answering a question about the team’s quarterback depth chart.