Ron Schwane/USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Manziel has made his NFL debut, but it was hardly an exhilarating start.

The Cleveland Browns sent Manziel into the huddle in the third quarter, and he handed off the ball to running back Isaiah Crowell for a three yard gain.

And then he was gone, and starter Brian Hoyer was back. Soon the Browns were punting.

Ron Schwane/USA TODAY Sports

The Browns tried the Manziel experiment later in the quarter – another handoff, this one for a three-yard loss; and one pass attempt that fell incomplete when it was dropped by the fullback.

The Browns have hinted for the last month that they could use Manziel as a change-of-pace quarterback, or give Manziel a special package of plays that highlight his unique skills as a runner and passer.

Indeed, Manziel’s first pass attempt started with play-action, with Manziel evading a pass rush and scrambling to his left. His pass was on target, but dropped. Hoyer then returned to the huddle to finish off a touchdown drive that put the Browns ahead 23-17.

David Richard/AP

Hoyer was declared the winner of the Browns’ drawn-out quarterback competition in mid-August, the Browns staff deciding that Hoyer’s veteran savvy, his calm presence in the huddle and overall knowledge of Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

But the Browns remained intrigued with Manziel, the former Heisman winner from Texas A&M the team drafted with the No. 22 pick in May. Though Manziel often struggled in the preseason when running the traditional elements of the Browns’ offense – and his accuracy was particularly a problem – there was no denying Manziel was able to provide a spark.

Though Browns fans have certainly supported Hoyer, a Cleveland native who grew up going to Browns games, Cleveland fell for Manziel as soon as he was drafted. The stands are FirstEnergy Stadium are filled with fans wearing his No. 2 jersey, and the crowd roared Sunday each time Manziel jogged onto the field.

Now that Browns fans have seen a glimpse of Manziel, expect the mania to continue to grow.

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(Thanks to SB Nation for sharing this GIF.)