BEREA, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel will start Clevelands exhibition opener on the sideline. Browns coach Mike Pettine chose Brian Hoyer as the starting quarterback for Saturdays game in Detroit, giving the veteran the first chance to impress before Manziel takes the field. Pettine said the decision to start Hoyer over Manziel was based on the veterans performance so far in training camp. "That was his job," Pettine said. "He was the one coming into it. We did want to mix the groups up coming into it, as we did, but hes done nothing to have that taken away from him, so hell be out there with the starters." Manziel has steadily improved, closing the gap on Hoyer in recent days as the rookie becomes more comfortable with the Browns playbook and offence. The former Heisman Trophy winner took his first practice snaps with the first-team offence earlier this week and he could get some playing time with Clevelands starters against the Lions. Manziel said the Xs and Os arent as jumbled in his mind as they were even a few days ago. "You just get out there with a lot less clutter," he said. "Were in to a couple weeks now, and it feels a lot more comfortable for me. Theres still a long ways to go for me obviously, and like I said a week ago, I felt like if I kept working on this stuff and got more and more familiar with a certain play call, a certain formation, a certain concept, then in due time I would get better at certain concepts and theres still a lot more for me to go." The competition between Hoyer and Manziel appears to have tightened, and Pettine said both QBs have made progress during the first two weeks of camp. "Theyve both made improvement, and I think theyre both doing a great job of playing to their skill sets," Pettine said. "Its obviously very different, what they bring to the table. I think Brians starting to feel very comfortable in the pocket." As he works toward naming a starter for the Sept. 7 opener at Pittsburgh, Pettine said more weight will be placed on how Hoyer and Manziel do in the first two preseason games. Pettine would like to have the QB competition -- and all positional battles -- decided before the third exhibition. "Thats the plan," he said. "Ive always been a part of, and more than likely will be here, resting most of the guys in the fourth game, so that third game is critical to get that chemistry and cohesion. Weve mixed the lineups a lot, which is good because youre getting guys exposure. Theyre in with the twos. Theyre in with the ones. Theyre going against the ones, going against the twos. At some point, youve got to settle down and develop that chemistry, that cohesion." Hoyer got a jolt on Tuesday when his surgically repaired right knee got hit during practice. Hoyer said linebacker Paul Kruger banged into his knee but that it held up fine. "It was more scary than anything else," he said. "I kind of went down and waited for there to be some pain and there wasnt, so it was actually kind of good to have some confidence going into Saturday knowing Ive actually taken a hit and the brace withstood the hit and the brace felt good. "I was scared for about two seconds and realized there was no pain and got up and went on to the next play." Hoyer hasnt considered taking a day off to rest his knee. "I cant afford it," he said. "Thats what were here for is to play football. I really dont think I need it. I feel fine." At least outwardly, Hoyer isnt showing any fear of Manziel gaining on him. The six-year veteran remains focused on getting better, leading his teammates and earning the trust of his coaches. Hes been prepared, meticulous and unshaken despite having the popular Manziel breathing down his neck. Hoyer knows he needs to play well, but hes not feeling any more pressure than hes already putting on himself. "The way I look at it is I feel like Im the starter until someone tells me otherwise and thats how I prepare," he said. "Even if I werent, Id prepare to be prepared regardless of the situation. You never know when your name is going to get called. Thats how my whole career has been. You kind of have to approach it the same way." NOTES: Browns Pro Bowl TE Jordan Cameron remains sidelined with a shoulder injury and will not play this weekend. ... As he awaits word from the NFL on his appeal of a possible suspension, WR Josh Gordon will be mixed in with the starter and backups vs. the Lions. ... S Tashaun Gipson returned to practice after being out with a sprained knee and is expected to play. Jim Umbricht Jersey . -- Deshorn Brown scored twice, the first coming 13 seconds into the game, and the Colorado Rapids beat the undermanned Seattle Sounders 5-1 Saturday night. Cheap Custom Astros Jersey . The Toronto Argonauts running back hurt his left ankle during the teams practice Friday afternoon at Rogers Centre. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-j-r-richard-jersey-large-356y.html. This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. Jose Urquidy Jersey .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. Custom Astros T-shirts . The senior threw for 319 yards and no interceptions in his final college game, leading No.Graeme McDowell believes victory at the 2015 OHL Classic at Mayakoba helped him realise he could still compete at the highest level. The Northern Irishman went into last years event in Mexico without a top-10 since his opening event of the year and languishing at No 82 in the world rankings, but took the title in a three-man play-off.Victory secured McDowell invites to the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral and the Masters, events for which the former US Open champion is yet to guarantee a place in 2017. McDowell aims to make a similarly fast start to his PGA Tour season and move up the world rankings, having missed the cut in Las Vegas last week.It was a very important victory for me at the end of last season, McDowell told a pre-tournament press conference. It opened up some nice doors for me and put me in some good positions in the FedExCup points. The Northern Irishman heads into this weeks event as world No 81 I think this time of the year is becoming very important for the PGA Tour and I think thats why we continue to see more and more players playing at this time of the year.Its so important that they get off to a fast start with so many great players now and it being so difficult to win.ddddddddddddThe win last win here was very special to me on a lot of levels and of course Id dearly love to try and repeat it this week. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. McDowell tees off for the opening two rounds alongside Charley Hoffman and Russell Knox, who finished joint runner-up with Jason Bohn last time around.Former world No 1 Luke Donald features with Jim Furyk and former PGA champion Keegan Bradley, while Ian Poulter and Irelands Seamus Power are also in the field. McDowell finished tied-fourth at Octobers British Masters Can McDowell defend his title? Watch the OHL Classic at Mayakoba live throughout the week on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Also See: PGA Tour latest news Recap: Gmacs Mexico win Pampling ends PGA drought Golf live on Sky Sports ' ' '