Oct. 24: According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, swelling in Mayfield’s shoulder has made it impossible for the fourth-year passer to sufficiently rehab the injury. He is in danger of missing the club’s Week 8 matchup against the Steelers, and because a harness alone may not prevent further damage if Mayfield is hit from behind and unable to adequately protect himself, he could be sidelined even longer than that.
Keenum — who navigated the team to a 17-14 victory over the Broncos on Thursday night — will obviously continue to get the nod in Mayfield’s absence.
Oct. 21: Baker Mayfield‘s shoulder injury sounds like it’s more serious than initially thought. Jay Glazer of FOX reports (via Twitter) that the Browns quarterback fractured the humerus bone in his shoulder.
[RELATED: QB Case Keenum To Start For Browns]
While it’s uncertain when Mayfield suffered the injury, it occurred when his shoulder popped out of its socket, which vicariously caused the fracture. The quarterback suffered a shoulder injury back in mid-September, but he reportedly aggravated the injury during the Browns’ loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. The fracture is limiting Mayfield’s rotator cuff, per Glazer, and that led to the QB being inactive for tonight’s game against the Broncos.
“I need that fracture to heal for me to get back out there,” Mayfield told Glazer (Twitter link). The QB is still hoping that his return will come next weekend, but that will depend on how quickly the fracture heals.
After being listed as inactive tonight, Mayfield will officially miss his first game since taking over as the Browns starting quarterback in 2018. The QB had started each of Cleveland’s first six games this season, completed 67.1-percent of his passes for 1,474 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Browns have backup Case Keenum under center in Mayfield’s stead, and the veteran will likely continue starting as long as Mayfield is out of the lineup.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
