Josh McCown Injury: Updates on Browns QB's Concussion and Return

Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown did not return to his team's regular-season opener against the New York Jets after leaving with a concussion suffered when he took a big hit while running toward the goal line.

As expected, he was inactive for Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, but he will start in Week 3 against the Oakland Raiders.

Continue for updates.

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McCown to Start After Sitting Out Week 2; Pettine Comments on QB's Status

Wednesday, Sept. 23

The Browns confirmed on the team website that McCown was cleared through the league's concussion protocol and will start in Week 3. The release also said the quarterback will practice today.

Prior to the official announcement, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report provided what he was hearing regarding the coaching staff's thought process on the starter for Week 3 on Sept. 22:

"Josh is still in the concussion protocol, we'll know in [the] next day or so if he'll be able to practice Wednesday," head coach Mike Pettine said on Sept. 21 after the team's Week 2 victory over the Titans, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The decision isn't surprising, as Pettine said on Sept. 21 that McCown would remain the starting quarterback, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Pettine added the team would go with the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win in Week 3 against Oakland, saying that he thinks the team will eventually learn through the "natural course of events" what Johnny Manziel can provide, via Ulrich.

On Sept. 18, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reported Pettine's statement that McCown suffered a setback in his recovery. Cabot reported McCown suffered no symptoms all week and was confident he'd pass the test, though he was failed by an Indianapolis neurologist.

On Sept. 13, Cole spoke to a Browns source who said that McCown's concussion is "not bad."

Signed this offseason as a stopgap solution, McCown will need to deliver upon his return to the lineup after Manziel's strong performance against Tennessee. 

At age 36, even the most strident Manziel detractors acknowledge that McCown doesn't have a long-term future in Cleveland. Outside of an eight-game blip in 2013, he has been a largely average career backup and proved he probably shouldn't be an NFL starter last season in Tampa Bay.

Despite all of his off-field troubles, Manziel is 22 years old and one year removed from being considered the future of the franchise. If McCown struggles, the Texas A&M product will be ready to run with any potential opportunity. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.