Quarterback Connor Shaw has agreed to terms on a deal with the Browns, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). He will be promoted from the practice squad in time to start on Sunday.
With so much talk surrounding the battle between Brian Hoyer and rookie Johnny Manziel for the starting job, few would have predicted that Shaw would wind up as the Week 17 starter. However, Hoyer’s shoulder injury and Manziel’s hamstring pull have left the Browns with little choice. Tyler Thigpen, signed earlier this week, will serve as Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback. The Browns initially hoped to sign Rex Grossman instead of Thigpen, but they were rebuffed as the strong-armed QB opted to spend the holidays with his family instead. I would speculate that Grossman would have been used as the starter in the season finale had he agreed to join the Browns for their final game of 2014.
A corresponding move has yet to be announced, but the Browns could free up a spot on the 53-man roster by placing Manziel on IR.