Mike Pettine's QB Comments a Sign It's Roster-Evaluation Time for Browns

That Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine named Austin Davis the team's starting quarterback for Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals is less interesting than how he explained making the decision.

Pettine said on Wednesday that the switch to Davis does not preclude the team from going back to Johnny Manziel in the future.

Pettine added, "These are two players that we both want to see play. That is the bottom line. I don't want to declare, 'Hey, this is what it is going to be from here on out.' These are two young quarterbacks that have upside and we want to see what that upside is. Austin is the guy for this week."

It's a sign that the Browns, at 2-9 on the year, are in evaluation mode. It's time to see what they have from players who have been on the team's margins this season, and it's time to prepare for 2016. 

Quarterback Josh McCown's season-ending collarbone fracture likely spurred the shift in philosophy. With the Browns' top passer sidelined for the rest of the year and the odds of them turning their fortunes around dwindling, the traditional approach to the roster has given way to this focus on evaluation.

This means Davis isn't the only player we're going to see more of on Sunday and moving forward. Tight end E.J. Bibbs, cornerback Charles Gaines and running back Glenn Winston could be among those that see their playing time increase.

Bibbs has played only four snaps this year, according to Pro Football Focus, and Gaines has played 37 since coming off of the team's injured reserve-recall list earlier in the year.

While the Browns know what they have in top tight end Gary Barnidge (and are likely shifting focus to trying to get the impending free agent signed to a long-term deal), they also need to see what Bibbs can provide the team, given that Jim Dray hasn't been a major on-field factor this year.

David Richard/Associated Press

Winston, long-praised by Cleveland's coaching staff, may as well see increased touches, given that the running game hasn't been productive at all behind Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell. Gaines was a promising player during the summer, and with the Browns considering placing fellow cornerback Joe Haden on injured reserve, this could open the door for more snaps for him.

The importance of these opportunities for Davis, Manziel and others cannot be understated. Whether they result in expanded roles next season or at least a chance for these players to get meaningful snaps on tape in case another organization may seek their services in a trade, determining the value of the Browns assets is a step toward improvement in 2016.

This is a typical move that struggling teams often make at the end of the year. Expect to see numerous less-than-familiar faces on the field for the Browns as the season winds down. Davis and Manziel are just the tip of the iceberg. That Pettine is willing to experiment at quarterback is a sign that further experimentation with other positions is likely also ahead.