The Sports Xchange

Quarterback Johnny Manziel is expected to be a full participant with the Cleveland Browns when they practice next Tuesday.

The non-contact work will be the first live practice since Manziel spent 10 weeks in a rehab center.

Josh McCown is the favorite to start at quarterback for the Browns, but new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has praised Manziel’s work ethic, and teammates have spoken favorably of the former first-round pick’s change in lifestyle.

“The way he is now is night and day from last year,” left tackle Joe Thomas told NFL Network. “He has a bright future ahead of him.”

“Johnny’s been great. He’s been fantastic,” DeFilippo told the Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier this month. “He’s been working hard, very hard with myself and (quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell), and doing what we want him to do on the field.”

DeFilippo, the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach for three seasons before replacing former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, said Manziel is taking his job seriously.

“From the moment he stepped in this building from the last two weeks, he’s been nothing but a consummate professional,” DeFilippo said. “He’s spent every hour that he’s been allowed to spend in this building. We give them worksheets every Tuesday and every Friday, and they’re done to the unbelievable detail that we need an NFL quarterback to do. From that standpoint, like I said, I can’t predict the future, but all I can do is tell you right now Johnny Manziel is putting himself in a position to be a quarterback in the NFL.”