BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will be limited during practice Wednesday as he continues to work through a rib injury suffered against the Colts.
He did not throw a single football during the portion of practice open to reporters Wednesday afternoon but did take snaps during team drills according to photos released by the team.
Mayfield said Wednesday that he still expects to play Sunday when the 4-1 Browns travel to Heinz Field to take on the 4-0 Steelers.
“Yep. Just day by day,” Mayfield said before practice. “Still confident [I’ll play].
“I’m good. Just one day at a time right now. Obviously a little sore, but that’s why we’ve got the rest of the week till gameday.”
The Browns listed Mayfield on the injury report as having a chest injury.
Mayfield suffered the injury when Colts defensive end Justin Houston hit him while throwing an interception in the fourth quarter.
He was looked at in the medical tent on the sideline by team trainers following the hit and he underwent X-rays, which were negative, right after the 32-23 win over Indianapolis.
“I’m lucky with the way I landed that it wasn’t directly on my shoulder, kinda rolled a little bit,” Mayfield said. “Obviously it could’ve been a lot worse.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated before practice that his plan was to limit or keep Mayfield out of some drills.
With Pittsburgh’s physical defensive front awaiting Sunday, Mayfield may need a flak jacket for additional protection.
“I think we will take it each day at a time here,” Stefanski said. “In terms of flak jacket and all those types of things, I just do not know. He is sore today so we will work through it today and then see where he is tomorrow.”
Pro Bowl scrapped – The NFL announced the 2021 Pro Bowl will not be played due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and it will be “reimagined” with a variety of fan engagement activities.
Although the game won’t be played, fans will still be able to vote on the rosters starting Nov. 17.
“The NFL and NFLPA's intention is to play a full regular and postseason schedule, culminating at the Super Bowl,” the league said in its announcement.
The league also announced that the 2022 Pro Bowl will be played in Las Vegas.
Welcome back – Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi returned to practice as did linebacker Tae Davis.
Ogunjobi missed Sunday’s game with an oblique injury and Davis had been dealing with an elbow injury.
Roster move – With shortages in the secondary, cornerback Robert Jackson was signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
Jackson, originally signed by the Colts in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, is in his second season out of UNLV.
He’s appeared in eight career games with the Browns, including the first two games this season, and spent the last three weeks on the practice squad. He registered a special teams tackle this year.
Injury report – DNP: S Ronnie Harrison (concussion), S Karl Joseph (hamstring), WR Jarvis Landry (ribs/hip), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), RG Wyatt Teller (calf); LIMITED: LB Tae Davis (elbow), RB Kareem Hunt (thigh), QB Baker Mayfield (chest), DT Larry Ogunjobi (abdomen), DT Sheldon Richardson (elbow), C JC Tretter (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (groin); FULL: DT Jordan Elliott (ankle)
