Quarterback Johnny Manziel is expected to return to the Cleveland Browns in time for offseason workouts that begin on April 20, ESPN reports. Manziel has spent more than two months in a rehab treatment facility but has maintained contact with certain team officials.
General manager Ray Farmer indicated that Manziel should be back by that April date, but ultimately left his return up to those that are handling the young quarterback's rehab.
"I don't think it's in doubt," Farmer said of Manziel returning by April 20. "Again, I'm not the point person in that. So I would defer to those kind of controlling his care and let them decide what that looks like."
The fragile nature of these types of situations could always lead to changes down the road, but ESPN reports that a source said an early April release is expected for Manziel.
Despite his absence, the Browns are confident that Manziel will still compete for the starting quarterback gig in 2015.
"That'd be the equivalent of me telling you that I could predict the future and tell you that he's not prepared," Farmer said. "If he is prepared and he demonstrates the things that he needs to demonstrate, then yeah he should get every opportunity to be the guy."
Manziel entered himself into a rehab facility in later January to "be a better family member, friend and teammate," family attorney Brad Beckworth said in a statement Feb. 3.
Browns head coach Mike Pettine has visited with Manziel during his treatment. Farmer and other team officials have spoken to him. Pettine has said that Manziel has the organization's "full support" and that football is a secondary matter compared to his health.
Manziel will compete with free agent signee Josh McCown, second-year quarterback Connor Shaw and recently acquired Thad Lewis for the starting job in 2015.
