Brian Hoyer has been chosen to start for the Cleveland Browns in the team's preseason game on Monday night against the Washington Redskins.
The decision was confirmed by Browns coach Mike Pettine, who said in a team release that Hoyer was a comfortable choice for starting in the game, according to NFL.com.
"I think it's a little overblown as to who the starter is going to be," Pettine said. "The key component, as I've stated earlier this week, is that we are going to balance the reps. We will play it a little by ear as it goes on, we haven't truly decided as far as the rotation but the goal is, for when we look at the stat sheet at halftime, that they both have the same amount of repetitions and hopefully they both get a good amount of work."
Pettine added that despite Hoyer getting the position, he will share time with the first team with Johnny Manziel, ESPN reported. He said Wednesday that the starters would play for about half of the game, which will give Hoyer and Manziel about a quarter to prove they should start in Week 1.
Manziel's work ethic allowed him to make a good impression since the beginning of train camp. Team sources said that while he was a few minutes late for a team meeting on Monday, it was not a factor in Hoyer being chosen for the Redskins game.
Pettine also said that it is good to have trouble deciding on the starting quarterback when the candidates are battling for it, CBS Sports reported.
"I think it's a good problem - I know it's a good problem to have because we have two quarterbacks we feel are capable enough to make plays to win football games," he said.
The Browns coach has been looking to make a decision on the Week 1 starter before the Brown's third preseason game, and sticking to the timeline will give him five days to make that decision after Monday's game, CBS Sports reported.
The Browns will take on St. Louis in its third preseason game on Aug. 23rd at home.
