Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Tuesday that quarterback Baker Mayfield will not play in the team’s final game, in order to get surgery on his left shoulder. The Browns (7–9) will play the Bengals (10–6) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET to finish out the 2021 season.
Mayfield will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he sustained in Week 2. He later re-injured his shoulder against the Cardinals, but continued to play. However after Monday’s loss to the Steelers, the Browns were officially eliminated from playoff contention and Mayfield confirmed he will need surgery. Mayfield ended the game with an abysmal 189 passing yards after completing just 16 of 38 passes. He threw two touchdowns but was intercepted twice as well.
Besides the shoulder injury, Mayfield also has dealt left foot soreness and a right knee contusion throughout the season. Said Mayfield after the loss: “I’ve continued to lay it out on the line when I haven’t been healthy and tried to fight for our guys. Right now, I’m pretty damn beat up, to be honest with you. There’s no way around it. I gave it everything I had tonight.”
Mayfield’s 2021 season will end with 3,010 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes, which are both career lows. He also threw 13 interceptions in his 14 appearances.
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