National Football League

Browns QBs Manziel, Hoyer struggle in 1st half

Published Aug. 18, 2014 9:41 p.m. ET

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LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Often throwing behind or over receivers, Johnny Manziel went 2 for 7 for 29 yards in the first half of the Cleveland Browns' exhibition game against the Washington Redskins on Monday night.

The other quarterback competing for Cleveland's starting job, Brian Hoyer, was 2 for 6 for 16 yards through two quarters.

Browns coach Mike Pettine has said he plans to announce his regular-season QB on Tuesday.

Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and 2014 first-round draft pick, and Hoyer each played two possessions against Washington's first-team defense - going a combined 2 for 9, with two sacks and zero points.

Hoyer started Monday's game, going 0-for-2 passing during his first two drives, which were both three-and-outs.

Manziel took over for Cleveland's next two possessions, which both ended in punts, too. Manziel ran one zone-read play, kept the ball, and wound up being tackled for a loss of 1 yard.

Cleveland's fifth drive started at Washington's 15. Facing backups, Hoyer threw two incompletions, and the Browns wound up kicking a 29-yard field goal for their only first-half points.

When Hoyer finally completed a pass, shortly before the 2-minute warning in the second quarter, tight end MarQueis Gray fumbled the ball away at the end of the play.

Washington took over at its own 44 and drove to a touchdown that gave it a 7-3 lead at halftime.