CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was limited at practice once again Thursday due to a chest injury suffered last week against the Colts.
Mayfield did not throw during Wednesday’s practice but did throw after with trainers according to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who spoke to him in the trainer’s room Thursday morning.
“I know he is feeling better,” Van Pelt said. “He is trending in the right direction.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated Thursday multiple factors will be considered in deciding if Mayfield will play against the 4-0 Steelers.
“With any injury there is always flexibility and movement and then there is a pain element to all of this,” Stefanski said. “But he is progressing.”
Mayfield said Wednesday that his whole right side was sore after taking a hit from Colts defensive end Justin Houston in the fourth quarter of a 32-23 victory over Indianapolis.
“He’s tough,” left guard Joel Bitonio said. “I’ve seen him do it a few times in games where he’s taken some shots and he’s gotten back up and he never wants to come out of those games. It’s just a testament to him and what he wants to do for this team.
“I think once you step on the field, he has a pride factor that’s out of this world that he wants to finish and do his part for our guys, and he’s going to do everything he can to really get through those games.”
Mayfield hasn’t missed a start since taking over as the starter in Week 3 of the 2018 season.
“He is a tough son of a gun for sure,” tight end Austin Hooper said. “He sits in there, takes licks every week and handles it like a man. He is the leader of our offense for a reason. You don't get the respect of other grown men in the locker room without having some toughness to you. I think that is a credit to him and what he is all about.”
Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said Wednesday they intend to make Mayfield think about and feel that injury Sunday at Heinz Field.
“I'm not a doctor,” Heyward said. “I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I know how bruised up he is. But at the end of the day I'm just trying to inflict good punishment.”
Heyward didn’t stop there.
“As a defense, you want to make sure a quarterback feels you,” Heyward said. “You want to make sure he's thinking about the rush. All those other things, his injuries, so be it. We play a physical game. He's going to come up there and try to be a warrior for his team, but it's up to us to make him think about that injury during the day.”
Keeping Mayfield clean is top priority for Bitonio and the offensive line.
“We’ve got to protect our quarterback,” Bitonio said. “I don’t think everybody says it every week, but guys are trying to get after the quarterback in this league. They want to get after him, they want to hit him and they want to get him off his landmarks. It’s our job upfront to stop them.
“It’s a challenge. They put a challenge out and we’ve got to handle our business and do what we can to protect Baker at all costs.”
Thursday’s session, which was moved indoors due to inclement weather, was closed to reporters due to COVID-19 protocols so it is unclear just how much work Mayfield got.
Backup quarterback Case Keenum, who has been taking reps in Mayfield’s place, is ready if called upon Sunday.
“All of our guys, you look back to that last game, guys step up and have to perform,” Stefanski said. “Case has been a backup in this league for a very long time and he has been a starter. He understands how to prepare if need be.”
