Johnny Manziel will finally get the chance to lead the Cleveland Browns as coach Mike Pettine announced on Tuesday night that the rookie quarterback will start in their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The decision came after the Browns took a 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, where then-starting quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled again for Cleveland.
Hoyer led the Browns to a 6-3 start, but the 29-year-old quarterback failed to live up to expectations in their last four games. He completed just 75 of 151 passes with just one touchdown against eight interceptions.
Pettine said that he decided to make the change not because Manziel is better than Hoyer, pointing out that they just felt that they will be in a better position to win with Manziel quarterbacking on Sunday.
"This decision is really not about Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel, it is about the Cleveland Browns," Pettine told ESPN. "We are always going to make decisions that we feel are in the best interest of the team."
The Browns are currently fourth in the American Football Conference North standings with their 7-6 record, but they still have a chance to advance to the playoffs depending on the results of their final three regular-season games.
Pettine expressed confidence that Manziel will be up to the task moving forward, but he also added that the entire team should be on the same page to improve their chances of making it into the playoffs this season.
"We are trying to get the offense to perform at a higher level," Pettine said. "Johnny has worked very hard to earn this opportunity and it will be very important for every member of the offense to elevate their play for us to obtain our desired result."
Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, said that he is excited to make his first NFL start. The former Texas A&M standout also expressed confidence that he will be ready for the challenge on Sunday because he has been preparing hard all-season long.
"I've tried to spend my entire season learning what it takes to become a pro and it's been great to watch Brian because he knows what it takes," Manziel said in a statement posted on the team's official website. "I've prepared every week to be ready to help the team however possible and my focus has been on improving every day."
