Johnny Manziel to start at QB vs. 49ers

— -- Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns made the expected announcement Tuesday, two weeks and two games after Manziel had been demoted for his bye week/social media decisions and for lying to the coaching staff about it.

"Johnny will be our starting quarterback on Sunday," Browns coach Mike Pettine said in a statement released by the team. "He's been solid in the building over the last couple of weeks and we are hopeful he takes this opportunity to continue to build on the progress he's made on the field throughout the season. The goal for every game is to go out and win, and Johnny needs to show that he can put us in position to do so during these last four weeks of the season."

The Browns want further evaluation of Manziel's ability on the field and how he handles any success and failure off it, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Monday. Even then, according to the source, the Browns are uncertain whether Manziel can re-establish the hope the franchise had when it made him a first-round pick in 2014.

The move marks the sixth quarterback change for the Browns since the season opener, and the third time Manziel has been given the job. He won the second game of the season over Tennessee, but lost badly to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in November. He struggled against the Bengals but threw for 372 yards against the Steelers.

Manziel was given the job the rest of the season after facing the Steelers, but Pettine demoted him to the third team because the coach said he had violated the team's trust by lying about the timing of a video showing him partying in Austin, Texas, during the bye week.

Austin Davis started last Sunday's 37-3 loss against Cincinnati, completing 25 of 38 passes for 230 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.