Week 9 Bengals vs Browns: Browns prepping Johnny Manziel to start vs Bengals

Update: Wednesday morning Mike Pettine confirmed Johnny Manziel will start for the Browns on Thursday night against the Bengals.

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The Cleveland Browns may be without quarterback Josh McCown when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.

McCown is dealing with a right shoulder injury in addition to injured ribs that could be enough to keep him sidelined on a short week. In the meantime, the Browns are getting set for second-year man Johnny Manziel to start Thursday, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.

I'm told the #Browns are preparing QB Johnny Manziel to start, on the road, against the undefeated #Bengals, on a short week. Brutal task.

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) November 3, 2015

#Browns McCown said it will take longer than a few days or weeks for ribs to heal

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 3, 2015

This would be a huge loss for the Browns as McCown is quietly having a good season for Cleveland. He's completing 65-percent of his passes for 1,897 yards with 11 touchdowns vs just four interceptions and has a 95.2 passer rating.

If Manziel does play, it would be just his fourth regular-season start with his first coming in Week 15 last year in Cleveland against the Bengals. It was a disastrous game for Manziel, who completed just 10 of 18 passes (55.6-percent) for 80 yards with two interceptions while taking three sacks and rushing for just 13 yards on five carries.

In five regular-season games, Manziel has completed 46 of 85 passes (54.1-percent) for 568 yards with three touchdowns, three interceptions and five fumbles. He's also run the ball 19 times for 71 yards  (3.7 yards per carry) and one score.

Remember these:

There was fun to be had for everyone the last time Manziel played against the Bengals. Well, except for Manziel, that is.