Johnny Manziel could make his first start in his National Football League career when the Cleveland Browns collide with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
After a promising start this season when they won in six of their first nine games, the Browns are now fourth in the American Football Conference North standings with their 7-6 record. The Browns took their second loss in three games on Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts escaped with a 25-24 victory.
Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled again as he completed just 14 of 31 passes with two interceptions, creating speculation that Cleveland will start Manziel in place of Hoyer on Sunday.
When asked about their quarterback situation, Browns coach Mike Pettine said that he is leaning towards benching Hoyer, but he added that he will talk to his staff about it before making a decision.
"I think it's natural to lean the other way, given the results," Pettine said via ESPN. "I still want to make sure we do our due diligence and get a chance to talk to everybody involved with it."
Pettine refused to put all the blame on Hoyer, but he said that their recent slump is enough for them to consider making changes.
When asked if Manziel will be ready when his number is called for Sunday's match, Pettine said that the rookie will undergo a learning process, but he expressed confidence that the former Texas A&M standout will be up to the task.
"I understand with the position comes a little bit more responsibility, and I kind of get a sense for what everybody's driving at here," Pettine said. "But it's part of the learning process. I know sometimes when you come from a system where it was simpler for him at A&M and at college as far as what defenses he was seeing and the extent of the game plan and all that. There's a transitional period."
But as far as Hoyer is concerned, the 29-year-old quarterback, who has completed 55.4 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, he will prepare to start against the Bengals on Sunday.
The six-year veteran insisted again that he did well enough in their first 13 games to become the Browns starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
