There wasn't too much great news over the past few days for Browns rookie QB Johnny Manziel and Bengals rookie RB Jeremy Hill. Manziel was fined $12,000 for giving Redskins players the bird, and Hill left Saturday night's game with a shoulder injury.
Despite the bad news, both of these rookies in the NFC North might see some reps with the first-team offense based on statements provided by Browns coach Mike Pettine and Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Pettine said that a two-QB system for the Browns is "on the table" and Jackson said Hill is "worthy of playing" with the first-team offense.
This news is surprising, considering Manziel lost the starting quarterback job to Brian Hoyer after both of them had relatively lackluster performances on Monday Night Football against the Washington Redskins, while Hill is the third running back on the Bengals depth chart behind incumbents Giovani Bernard and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. But these NFL-ready rookies could see some significant playing time during the season.
"I think in the NFL that you do yourself a disservice if you don't have two quarterbacks ready," Pettine said Friday on "The Opening Drive" on SiriusXM NFL Radio, via this ESPN article. "And people have asked me about potentially a two-quarterback system and having a package for him. That is on the table."
On Thursday, Hue Jackson spoke with reporters about Jeremy Hill's role in the offense.
"As long as he's doing what he needs to do, I'm fine," said Jackson, in this Cincinnati.com article. "I think that's a little overrated (that he has to get reps with the first team to be in sync) - runners run."
During the 2014 preseason, Manziel is 14-for-27 for 128 yards and a touchdown along with seven rushes for a total of 26 yards. Hill has ran for 52 yards on nine carries and also recorded two receptions for 13 yards.
Both will be back in action this weekend when the Browns face the Rams on Saturday and the Bengals visit the Cardinals on Sunday night for the third week of the NFL preseason.
