NFL notes

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

BROWNS

Manziel out as starter

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AP

St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015.

photo

AP

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015.

Johnny Manziel lost his job as the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Browns a day after a video and photographs surfaced online showing the 22nd overall pick in last year's draft partying.

Browns Coach Mike Pettine announced his decision to start veteran Josh McCown moving forward in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. Austin Davis will serve as McCown's primary backup. Manziel will drop to No. 3 on the depth chart.

Pettine had named Manziel the starter for the rest of the season on Nov. 17 and discussed the former Heisman Trophy winner's off-field conduct with him the same day. Manziel responded by promising Pettine he wouldn't do anything to embarrass the organization during the team's recent five-day, bye-week break. He also echoed the vow to the media before the team departed for its brief vacation.

Now McCown will start when the Browns (2-8) host the Baltimore Ravens (3-7) next week on Monday Night Football. Both McCown and Pettine said the veteran is healthy enough to play now despite dealing with a rib injury suffered Oct. 25.

Pettine said he had watched the video in which Manziel holds a large bottle while singing and dancing at a nightclub in Austin, Texas.

RAMS

Keenum questionable

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum did not practice Tuesday while going through the NFL's concussion protocol, but Coach Jeff Fisher is hopeful he'll be cleared today.

Fisher said Keenum, injured late in Sunday's loss at Baltimore, was at Rams Park studying film and participating in meetings on Tuesday.

Nick Foles would regain his starting spot this week at Cincinnati if Keenum can't come back. Foles was benched after several poor outings and Keenum wasn't much of an improvement, going 12 for 26 for just 136 yards and one touchdown.

Rookie Sean Mannion, a third-round pick, is the third-string quarterback.

49ERS

Kaepernick has surgery

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had surgery in Vail, Colo., Tuesday morning on his left, non-throwing shoulder. A source said the doctor who performed the surgery, Dr. Peter Millett of the Steadman Clinic, said the tear in the quarterback's labrum was "extensive."

Kaepernick's recovery is expected to last four to six months. He will go through the rehabilitation process with the 49ers, who must decide whether to cut ties with him -- either through a trade or outright release -- by April 1 when his $11.9 million salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed.

General Manager Trent Baalke said Sunday that speculation that Kaepernick had played his last snap for the 49ers was premature. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday and the 49ers will move forward this season with a quarterback corps that includes Blaine Gabbert, Dylan Thompson and McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who was added to the practice squad Monday.

Kaepernick injured the shoulder in a Week 4 loss to the Packers. He was examined after the game by the team's doctor but the full extent of the injury wasn't known until last week when Kaepernick was given an MRI.

RAVENS

QB Clausen claimed

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens have claimed quarterback Jimmy Clausen off waivers to serve as backup to Matt Schaub.

To make room for Clausen on the roster, the Ravens placed quarterback Joe Flacco on injured reserve Tuesday.

Flacco tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee Sunday in a 16-13 victory over St. Louis and is lost for the season. Schaub will be the starter on Monday night at Cleveland.

Clausen was waived by the Bears on Monday. He played in two games with Chicago this season, starting once.

The six-year veteran was chosen by Carolina in the second round of the 2010 draft after playing college ball at Notre Dame.

Clausen has played in 19 games, starting 12. He has five touchdown passes and 11 interceptions over his career.

DOLPHINS

LB Coples claimed

DAVIE, Fla. -- Pass rusher Quinton Coples was claimed Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins, meaning he may get to play Sunday against the team that just released him -- the New York Jets.

The former first-round draft pick played outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 defense this year, but will be an end in the Dolphins' 4-3 scheme. Miami lost Pro Bowl end Cameron Wake to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon last month and has struggled to mount a pass rush all season.

The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Coples played end at North Carolina.

New York's decision to part with Coples on Monday was a surprise despite his diminished role this season. The Jets made him the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Coples had 16 1/2 sacks in three seasons under Coach Rex Ryan, including 6 1/2 in 2014, but none this season while starting only two games for Coach Todd Bowles.

Miami first-year executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum was the Jets' general manager when they drafted Coples.

To make room on the roster for Coples, the Dolphins waived cornerback Zack Bowman.

SEAHAWKS

RB Brown re-signed

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks waived defensive tackle A.J. Francis on Tuesday and re-signed running back Bryce Brown for additional depth in the backfield.

The Seahawks also placed linebacker Nick Moody on injured reserve and signed wide receiver B.J. Daniels from the practice squad. Moody was hurt in Sunday's victory over San Francisco.

Brown is in his second stint with the Seahawks, but could be active for the first time this season with Marshawn Lynch not expected to play on Sunday against Pittsburgh. Seattle played last week against San Francisco with just two running backs active, Thomas Rawls and Fred Jackson.

The signing of Daniels may be protective in case Doug Baldwin is slowed this week by an ankle injury suffered against the 49ers.

Sports on 11/25/2015

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