Browns coaches to Mayfield: Let it rip

As Cleveland Browns interim coach Gregg Williams and offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens strive to aid the development of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, they are encouraging him to unleash his game rather than restrain it.

“That’s the next step for a young quarterback in my mind,” Williams said on Thursday as the Browns prepared for Sunday’s home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Williams said he has told Mayfield that the Browns have confidence in him and fully support him, so he shouldn’t be the least bit worried about making mistakes.

“We have his back. Now, let’s go,” Williams said. “You’re a smart enough quarterback, instinctive enough quarterback. We understand that mistakes are going to be made. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Just cut it loose and play, and make faster Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner is brought down by Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid on a first-half carry on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Conner rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers rolled 52-21.

and faster decisions. That’s the No. 1 thing that I’ve tried to convey to him.”

The No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, Mayfield is 1-5 as a starter, and he has completed 159 of 265 passes (60 percent, ranked 31st in the NFL) for 1,768 yards and 10 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. His passer rating is 81.5, ranked

29th, and he has taken 22 sacks.

Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Denzel Ward said he expects to play against the Falcons. Whether he will be able to finish the game is a legitimate question.

Ward left Sunday’s loss to Kansas City during the first defensive series because of a hip issue that bothered

him in the buildup to the game. He sat out practice earlier this week before returning Thursday on a limited basis.

“I thought I’d be able to make it through (the game),” said Ward, a former Ohio State cornerback who leads the Browns with three interceptions this season. “But obviously that wasn’t the case. It was reoccurring throughout that whole week and then going into the game. As the game was going on, it was very hard for me to cut and make moves and run. So I couldn’t really go.”

Arizona wideout Larry Fitzgerald needs only 33 yards receiving on Sunday at Kansas City to move past Hall of Famer Terrell Owens into second place on the NFL’s all-time yards receiving list.

Halfway through his 15th season, Fitzgerald has 15,902 yards receiving, behind Owens’ 15,934 and Jerry Rice’s phenomenal 22,895. The 35-year-old brushed aside talk of the yardage milestone.

“Honestly, I don’t really think about it,” he said.

Fitzgerald needs 58 catches to pass Tony Gonzalez for second on the NFL career receptions list. Fitzgerald has 1,268 catches to Gonzalez’s 1,325 and Rice’s 1,549.

• Chicago pass rusher Khalil Mack (ankle) and top receiver Allen Robinson (groin) look close to returning after missing the past two games because of injury. Both practiced without limitation on Thursday for the second consecutive day, and the Bears hope to have them back against Detroit on Sunday.

• Veteran Josh McCown will start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday against Buffalo in place of injured rookie Sam Darnold (strained right foot). “I’m ready to rule (Darnold) out as a starter for this week,” coach Todd Bowles said. “I don’t know if I’ll rule him out yet for the game.”