CLEVELAND (AP) – Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is starting again after being benched for two games.
Manziel will make his fourth start this season on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, returning to the job he lost last month for off-field behavior.
Browns coach Mike Pettine is giving Manziel another chance after the second-year QB defied his coaches by partying and becoming a distraction during the team’s bye week. Manziel had been named the starter for Cleveland’s final six games on Nov. 17 only to throw away the opportunity with his escapades.
Manziel will replace Austin Davis, who started Sunday’s 37-3 embarrassing loss to Cincinnati. Davis didn’t do anything to lose his job, but not enough to hang on to it either.
Manziel passed for a career-high 372 yards in his last start on Nov. 15 in Pittsburgh.