CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – We now know just how bad Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder is, but his return this season is unaffected.
Mayfield told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports that he has a fractured humerus bone in addition to a torn labrum. Glazer reported the injury prior to Thursday night’s 17-14 Browns win over the Broncos.
After the game head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to discuss specifics of the injury but did concede that the revelation does not change the timeline or outlook for Mayfield.
“He will be back out there as soon as he can,” Stefanski said.
Whether or not that means Mayfield will be ready for Pittsburgh on the 31st remains to be seen.
“Of course there is a chance for all of it, but it is too far away to give you a good number,” Stefanski said.
The additional injury was revealed during scans this week Mayfield told Glazer and suffered when his left shoulder came out following a sack by Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt.
The revelation means that backup quarterback Case Keenum may have to continue to start in Mayfield’s place.
“I need that fracture to heal for me to get back out there,” Mayfield told Glazer.
Prior to him missing Thursday night's win over the Broncos, Mayfield had started 53 consecutive games, including the playoffs, the second longest streak in franchise history behind Brian Sipe's 71 starts in a row from 1978-1982, including the playoffs.
During the game Mayfield had an earpiece in and worked closely with backup Case Keenum, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown and rating of 90.3 in Mayfield's place.
“Bake was great. He was locked in,” Keenum said. “He was very helpful with the pictures and breaking down defenses and what we were getting. Then also the call sheets, getting our two-minute drive that did not go anywhere, but he was great. Locked in.”