Pettine reinstalls Manziel as starting QB
Previously benched signal-caller will get start in Browns’ final four games
Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine gave Johnny Manziel a belated birthday gift Tuesday by lifting his punishment and formally naming him the starting quarterback.
A statement released by Pettine made it clear the Browns intend to start Manziel not only for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, but for each of the remaining four games this season.
“Johnny will be our starting quarterback on Sunday,” Pettine said in the statement. “He’s been solid in the building over the last couple of weeks, and we are hopeful he takes this opportunity to continue to build on the progress he’s made on the field throughout the season. The goal for every game is to go out and win, and Johnny needs to show that he can put us in position to do so during these last four weeks of the season.”
Manziel, who turned 23 on Sunday, spent the past two games on the bench after Pettine docked him for his off-field behavior. A few days after he had been named the starter for the remainder of the season on Nov. 17, Manziel partied during a bye-week break, then lied to the Browns about it. So Pettine demoted Manziel from starter
McCarthy said it’s up to Lacy to learn from his mistake and work hard to regain the starting spot.
“Everything Eddie wants to accomplish is right there in front of him,” McCarthy said. “Everything is in front of him. If Eddie or any other player wants to jump up and grab that opportunity, it’s right in front of them.”
— Chicago put tight end Martellus Bennett (ribs) on season-ending injured reserve. Bennett, in his third season with the Bears and ninth in the NFL, has 348 career receptions for 3,586 yards and 23 touchdowns in 119 games with the Dallas Cowboys (2008-11), New York Giants (2012) and Chicago (2013-15).
— New York Giants placed long snapper Zak DeOssie (wrist) and tight end Larry Donnell (neck) on injured reserve. DeOssie has never missed a game in his eight-year caree,r but will end his start of 140 consecutive games played, second longest on the team behind quarterback Eli Manning’s 179 straight appearances.
— San Diego brought back wide receiver Vincent Brown, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the team. Brown spent last season in Oakland and went to training camp with the Indianapolis Colts this year. He has played in 37 career NFL games and made 16 starts.
— Arizona promoted safety D.J. Swearinger to the active roster. In 39 career games with the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has 109 tackles, three interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one sack, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
— Oakland signed fullback-running back Jamize Olawale to a three-year contract extension. Olawale has contributed on specials teams and offense in 45 career games for the Raiders, spanning four seasons, with 29 rushes for 116 yards and one touchdown, 20 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and 22 tackles.
— San Francisco placed tight end Garrett Celek (ankle) on injured reserve and re-signed linebacker Shayne Skov to a two-year contract. Skov played in the 49ers’ first 11 games this season before being waived Dec. 5. He had four tackles on special teams.
— Minnesota signed veteran free agent Shaun Prater to bolster its injurydepleted secondary ahead of Thursday night’s game at the Arizona Cardinals.
— Indianapolis put linebacker Nate Irving (wrist) on injured reserve, signed freeagent cornerback Jalil Brown and waived cornerback Josh Thomas.
— Buffalo elevated tight end Nick O’Leary, the grandson of golf legend Jack Nicklaus, to the 53-man roster. He was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State.