Cleveland Browns make decision on Baker Mayfield

It appears Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield can take the field on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday afternoon that Mayfield, who has a torn left labrum and shoulder fracture, was medically cleared to play.

“With full range of motion in his shoulder & his strength back, the medical decision was made,” Rapoport added on Twitter. “The fracture is healing.”

“Medically, he’s ready to go,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said of Mayfield. “Baker feels that he’s ready and ready to help this team win.”

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney remain questionable for the game on Sunday. Cleveland is a 3.5-point favorite at home.

Mayfield had a good week in practice

The fourth-year quarterback sat out last weekend’s game against the Denver Broncos. Cleveland notched a 17-14 win in his absence. 

Mayfield practiced Wednesday and had previously said playing this weekend was “absolutely” a possibility. 

“There’s not a certain number of reps that I specifically need,” he said Wednesday. “You saw last week that Case [Keenum] on a short week got very minimum reps as well and did absolutely great. So I think there’s a lot of what ifs, but we’re just going to take it day by day.”

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski echoed the sentiment. 

“We’ll see how he does at practice and we’ll take it day-by-day,” Stefanski said.

Mayfield has been adamant to play, even pushing to start in Week 7 against the Broncos. The Oklahoma product took all the first-team reps in practice the Tuesday leading up to the game, but due to the quick turnaround with the Browns playing on Thursday Night Football, the idea was ultimately shut down. Mayfield’s streak of 51 consecutive regular-season starts and 53 overall, the second-longest streak in Browns history, ended as Case Keenum got the start against the Broncos. 

This season through six games, Mayfield has thrown for 1,474 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions with a 67.1 completion percentage, leading the Browns to a 3-3 record in games he played. Despite a plethora of offensive injuries, his current passer rating of 97.8 is the highest of his career.

Mayfield is eligible for a contract extension this year. The Browns exercised the fifth-year option with him for 2022, but there have reportedly been no additional contract talks to date.

On3’s Tim Verghese contributed to this report.