Tuesday's roundup: Browns lose McCown for the season
Cleveland — Josh McCown is done being battered around this season.
McCown broke his collarbone in Monday night’s last-second loss to Baltimore, an injury that will cost him the final five games this season and re-open more quarterback chaos in Cleveland.
McCown, 36, who sustained a concussion on the season’s opening drive and missed two games with injured ribs, kept playing despite taking a hard hit in the second half.
He took himself out after throwing an incompletion in the fourth quarter.
Browns coach Mike Pettine said McCown will not need surgery, the lone positive for a team that has lost six straight.
“It was not displaced, so he does not need to have surgery but it will take more than the rest of the season to get it healed up,” Pettine said. “That’s very unfortunate.”
McCown was signed to a three-year deal to stabilize Cleveland’s wobbly quarterback situation. He did the best he could while also serving as a mentor to Johnny Manziel, who was recently given the starting job and then had it taken from him for off-field behavior.
McCown was replaced by Austin Davis, who threw a tying touchdown pass in the final minutes and had the Browns in position to kick a winning field goal only to have it blocked and returned 64 yards for a touchdown on the final play.
Manziel, who has gone 1-2 as a starter this season, was inactive Monday as the No. 3 quarterback. He was the starter the last six games before a video surfaced of him partying during the team’s bye week.
Extra points
The NFL’s owners could take a significant step toward the league’s return to Los Angeles when the full ownership convenes today for its annual meetings outside Dallas.
While nothing is expected to be resolved this week, officials might set a date for that resolution by scheduling a relocation vote for early next year. On the other hand, they also might delay the debate for yet another year.
... The NFL moved referee PeteMorelli’s crew off Sunday night’s game between the Colts and Steelers.
Instead, Morelli’s crew will work an afternoon game between the Eagles and Patriots.
Morelli’s group was heavily criticized by the Cardinals and 49ers last weekend.
Personnel dept.
Rob Gronkowski suffered a bone bruise and sprain of his right knee during the Patriots 30-24 overtime loss to the Broncos last weekend.
The tight end will be evaluated on a weekly basis and there is no timetable for his return.
Gronkowski was carted off the field with 2 minutes 49 seconds left. He has 57 catches for 931 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games this season.
... Terrelle Pryor agreed to sign with the Browns as a wide receiver.
... Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will remain under the concussion protocol this week.
... Dolphins defensive tackle C.J. Mosley, who played for the Lions, has been waived-injured after hurting his calf in last weekend’s loss to the Jets.
... The Cardinals placed running back Chris Johnson (fractured tibia)on the injured reserve/designated to return list.
... The Panthers signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan.