After a strong performance Thursday from Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, coach Mike Pettine didn't rule out the possibility of the rookie getting playing time in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Manziel also found time after the game to tweet congratulations to his former Texas A&M teammate and successor, Kenny Hill.
Manziel and starting quarterback Brian Hoyer both turned in solid performances in Cleveland's preseason finale against Chicago. Granted it was a meaningless exhibition game, Manziel's performance - 6-of-17 for 83 yards and one touchdown, along with 55 rushing yards - may have helped his chances of seeing the field in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"It's something we'll discuss," Pettine said, via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "I don't know if that's necessarily something just because of tonight. We'll have discussions on how we want to game plan and how we want to use those guys."
Manziel, whose playmaking abilities were on display Thursday night, could get onto the field in packages specially designed for him by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who ran a zone-read offense the last two seasons with Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
"I think I need to prepare like I'm going to play," said Manziel, who acknowledged his passing wasn't the greatest against Chicago. "Whenever it may be, I need to be ready. Whether it's a package, whether it's coming in and playing, whatever it is that I'm asked to do, I need to be ready to step in and execute that without any hesitation. That's my job."
Afterwards, Manziel found time to congratulate Hill on his 511-yard record passing performance against South Carolina, dubbing the sophomore "Kenny Football."
