Browns won't name a starting QB for competitive reasons

Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine would not name a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for what he described as competitive reasons.

Pettine said Johnny Manziel took the majority of reps in Friday's practice and that Josh McCown was limited as he recovers from rib injuries. Pettine said earlier in the week that McCown would start if healthy.

Manziel started for an injured McCown last Thursday in a 31-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Manziel finished 15-of-33 for 168 yards and a touchdown, and after the game the second-year player said he "absolutely" wanted to remain the starter.

Pettine said McCown would either start or be inactive. Austin Davis will be active as the backup or No. 3. He added McCown seemed to improve with his throwing as the week went on, but he declined to quantify how much.

Earlier this week Pettine discussed the dynamic of playing a young quarterback in order to develop him for the future.

"We're tasked as coaches to put the roster out there that gives us the best hope to win," Pettine said at the time. "We're tasked with winning football games. At the point, essentially just past the midway point, I understand that the talk is there, especially at the quarterback position. But from a coaching standpoint, the thinking is a little different."