Browns starting quarterback Josh McCown
Head Coach Mike Pettine put any speculation to rest regarding the immediate future of his quarterbacks Wednesday, announcing that veteran quarterback Josh McCown will start for the Browns Sunday when they take on the Oakland Raiders at FirstEnergy Stadium.
"Josh was cleared by the independent neurologist this morning, so he's 100 percent cleared, return to play," said Pettine during his Wednesday press conference. "He's done everything we've asked of him in the offseason and so far this year. He'd earned the right to be our starting quarterback. We feel that he gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday, and that was truly the basis for the decision."
McCown started the season as the starter in Cleveland, but was forced out of the team's Week 1 contest agasint the New York Jets due to injury.
Johnny Manziel entered in relief, and proceeded to start last week, going 21-39 and throwing for 354 yards and 1 touchdown in the team's 28-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.
While Pettine and the Cleveland coaching staff elected to go with McCown as the starter, he made sure to praise the work of his young backup.
"I thought Johnny did an outstanding job with his opportunity," Pettine said. "He knows that there are some things he needs to clean up, actually, the quarterback room knows that we need to be more protective of the football, but as a said before, [I'm] very proud of him, personally and professionally with the progress that he's made."
McCown has some familiarity with the Silver and Black, spending the 2007 season with the Raiders, starting 9 games for Oakland with the team going 2-7 with him under center.
Kickoff for the Week 3 matchup between the Raiders and Browns is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PT.
