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Johnny Manziel avoids serious injury on face mask tackle

Johnny Manziel wasn't the answer at quarterback. Neither was Josh McCown nor Austin Davis. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

PITTSBURGH -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was fortunate not to be seriously injured after he was the recipient of a nasty face mask tackle by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats in the second quarter Sunday.

On second-and-12 from the Browns' 43, Manziel dropped to throw and then stepped up to avoid a rush.
 Moats reached out and grabbed Manziel by the face mask. He wound up twirling Manziel to the ground.

Manziel's neck was twisted on the tackle, but he appeared to only lose a contact lens.

He returned to the game and completed a pass to Gary Barnidge, his fourth completion in a row on the drive. But a run for a loss and a sack ended the drive.

Moats, who has never been known as a dirty player, was penalized but not ejected. The league no doubt will look at the play when determining fines this week. After the game, Moats apologized to Manziel via Twitter: