The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Mayfield hopes to play against Bucs
Browns QB hopes to get in on the action for at least a half
Fans who want the Browns starters to play in the preseason know Baker Mayfield feels the same way.
Fans who have been itching to see the Browns starters play in the preseason might take comfort knowing Baker Mayfield feels the same way.
The second-year quarterback was on the field for one series in the preseason opener against the Redskins. He looked ready for the start of the regular season when he led an 89-yard, sevenplay drive culminating in a 24yard touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins.
Mayfield did not play in the balance of the game with Washington and he did not play at all against the Colts in the second preseason game. Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. did not play in either game and neither did wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
The starters will not play Aug. 29 when the Browns host the Lions. That leaves the game Aug. 23 in Tampa, Fla., for Mayfield and other starters to accomplish what cannot be mimicked in practice. Beckham, who has not been in team drills since Aug. 6, will not play in Tampa.
“I would like to say at least a half. But it’s not my call,” Mayfield said after practice Aug. 21.
“That third game, a lot of the time is treated as the last warmup before the real thing starts because none of the starters play in the fourth game, just because it’s so close to the real one.
“It’s a final tune-up, iron everything out, treat it more like a game week with the mental prep work of getting into a routine, so yeah, I’m looking forward to playing.”
Last year as offensive coordinator, Freddie Kitchens, now in his first year as head coach, announced the Thursday before the game he would run the wishbone offense against the Falcons. Reporters thought he was joking, but sure enough he did use the wishbone and it helped the Browns win the game. 28-16.
But his plans on playing time in Tampa? He said he will make that decision the morning of the game. He grinned when told Mayfield wants to play at least a half against the Buccaneers.
“I’ll let him think that,” Kitchens said. “We’re going to play our guys some. I don’t know how long yet. Some of it factors in on how guys are feeling — little nicks and bumps that they may have because they have nicks and bumps.
“We’ve had a physical camp. You just have to factor all those things in and then make a determination. I don’t have all the answers yet because I don’t know. A guy can feel totally different on Friday than he did Wednesday.”
Regardless how long the starters play, the game against the Buccaneers and the one against the Lions six night later will help determine which players will still be on the roster when it has to be cut to 53 players on Aug. 31. Ninety-one players are on the roster now.
Running back D’Ernest Johnson plus wide receivers Braxton Miller, Derrick Willies and Damon SheehyGuiseppi are battling for spots on offense. End Chad Thomas, cornerback Juston Burros and linebacker RayRay Armstrong are among players out to make an impression on defense.
The game against the Buccaneers is the next test for kickers Greg Joseph and rookie Austin Seibert. Neither has kicked well enough to cement the job, which means the Browns could be scanning the waiver wire for another kicker soon when rosters are cut on Aug. 31, just eight days before the start of the regular season, if neither doesn’t seize the job soon.