Manziel plays sparingly in Express debut

Johnny Manziel made his Alliance of American Football debut for the Memphis Express on Sunday in a 31-25 comeback victory over the Birmingham Iron, rotating in during the second and third quarters with starter Brandon Silvers.

Manziel finished 3-of-5 passing for 48 yards, with the highlight a 36-yard pass down the sideline to Alton Howard. He also added 20 rushing yards on two carries, and had a wild scramble behind the line that helped draw a defensive holding penalty.

Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner and Cleveland Browns first-round pick, signed with the Express last week after being released by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. He split first-team reps with Silvers in practice this week, which proved to be enough preparation for him to play.

Manziel first entered during the second quarter, leading a drive that ended in a missed field goal attempt. The Express sent Silvers back out on the next possession, as the team ran a two-minute drill before halftime. Manziel came back in during the third quarter, but the offense didn't gain much traction until Silvers returned.

The decision to stick with Silvers, a former Troy product who went undrafted in 2018, proved smart for Memphis head coach Mike Singletary. After trailing 19-8 late in the third quarter, the Express rallied for the overtime victory behind two touchdown passes from Silvers.

A 7-yard pass to Reece Horn -- and the ensuing two-point conversion -- tied the score with 24 seconds left, and a 10-yarder to Daniel Williams won it in overtime. Silvers finished 24 of 35 for 266 yards.

Manziel -- who wore a microphone, as all AAF quarterbacks do -- could be heard jawing with opponents on the field and chatting with fellow Express quarterback Christian Hackenberg on the sideline during the NFL Network broadcast. He celebrated Silvers' game-winning TD pass jubilantly, along with the rest of the team.

It was the first overtime game in AAF history.

--Field Level Media