BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder is sore, but it is nothing that will keep the quarterback from playing this week against the Chicago Bears.
Mayfield said following Sunday’s 31-21 win over the Texans that it “popped in and out.”
The injury, which occurred when Mayfield tackled Texans safety Justin Reid following an interception, left the quarterback keeled over for a few minutes on the field before he went to the medical tent and then the locker room for further examination.
“It’s good,” Mayfield said Wednesday. “Hanging in there. Attached still.”
Mayfield brought his physiotherapist to town to this week to work on his shoulder as much as possible.
“His name’s Dave Matthews,” Mayfield said. “Not the band.
“He's a big reason why I've been able to survive for the last three years. Just doing all the things that I have been doing and just get ready for Sunday.”
Mayfield was introduced to Matthews, who has worked with Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer among others, by Drew Stanton as a rookie.
Mayfield did not miss a snap against Houston, returning to the bench in time to take the field for their next offensive series. Upon returning Mayfield delivered a one-handed block and ran for a touchdown.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski went to the run game and three tight end sets to protect Mayfield as much as possible. Later in the game Mayfield delivered a one arm block with his right hand
Tight end Austin Hooper believes Mayfield’s effort was a tone setter.
“I wasn’t surprised, but I mean, definitely reaffirmed just, you know, how much of a tough S.O.B. he is,” Hooper said. “When you see a guy like that do that, it just it does something for the team. You got your leader on the team putting it all on the line like that, you have no excuse not to as well.”
“So that was awesome for the entire organization to see exactly what kind of competitor, what kind of person Baker is, what kind of leader he is. And it all starts at the top with him. So, I mean, he sets a precedent so no one else can have an excuse now. I mean, if our quarterback’s out there, throwing guys to the ground with one arm, what excuse do you have?”
On Monday, running back Kareem Hunt said he wished Mayfield would leave the tackling to him next time.
“Well, he needs to get his ass up there and make it happen,” Mayfield said, smiling. “Watching the tape, so, no, Kareem is funny.”
Linebacker Malcolm Smith was asked if he had any tackling tips for Mayfield.
“No, I’m just going to tell him to stay away,” Smith said. “Yeah.
Stay away.
“Don’t do it. Don’t do it.”
Although Smith would prefer Mayfield not put himself in harms way, he respected the effort.
“He wants to get the guy down and I respect that because you’ve seen otherwise where guys just let him score and that sucks so I definitely appreciate it,” Smith said. “We’ll definitely have to work on the technique a little but, maybe not sacrifice that part of your body, but I’m glad it wasn’t his throwing arm.”