Baker Mayfield injury: How long will he be out for the Browns?
When it comes to injuries, Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns just can’t seem to get a break. In Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, they sustained yet another setback.
Mayfield told reporters after the game on Sunday that he dislocated his shoulder during the game. After being hit by J.J. Watt in the third quarter, the quarterback injured his shoulder. Mayfield also tore the labrum in the same shoulder that he dislocated against the Houston Texans in Week 2.
Mayfield has clearly been hampered by the injury, completing only 53.1 percent of his passes in the two victories over the Bears and Vikings.
Will Mayfield be on the field on Thursday night?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about Mayfield’s injury and whether he could rest his star quarterback if the Browns’ medical team clears him for Thursday night’s game.
“With any injury, I am not the expert,” Stefanski said. “I am not the medical expert so I will listen to the medical team here and will listen to the player. With every single player here, you treat them, and you have a dialog with them. You talk to the doctors, and again, we will make good decisions and smart decisions with all of these guys.”
After the Browns’ poor 37-14 loss to the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals, Mayfield had an MRI on his injured left shoulder the next day. Mayfield will get a second opinion on his shoulder before coach Kevin Stefanski decides between Case Keenum and Mayfield for the game on Thursday night, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
The Browns will not be getting a raw backup quarterback if Case Keenum is given the starting job. He’s been in the NFL for ten years, and while his regular-season record of 27-35 doesn’t exactly scream starting quarterback, he has led a club to the playoffs.
Keenum led the Minnesota Vikings to an 11-3 record in 2017 before that “Minneapolis Miracle” toss, which saw the Vikings overcome Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to go to the NFC Championship game.
After that, Keenum proceeded to Denver before signing with Washington, and then with the Browns last year. Keenum is definitely a capable quarterback, and if pressed into service, Cleveland could easily keep the team afloat until Mayfield returns.