Browns expecting Mayfield to ‘bounce back as starter in ‘22

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns aren’t ready to throw Baker Mayfield away just yet.

The quarterback’s subpar season didn’t cost him his starting job, with general manager Andrew Berry saying Tuesday the Browns “fully expect” Mayfield to return as their quarterback after an injury-plagued 2021.

Mayfield played most of the season with a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder, and the injury contributed to him regressing and the Browns (8-9) missing the playoffs. He’ll have surgery on Jan. 19.

Mayfield’s shaky season — and the team’s hesitancy to sign him to a long-term extension — fueled speculation the Browns might go in another direction at quarterback.

That’s still possible. It is the unpredictable NFL after all, and things can change in a heartbeat or with one phone call.

But Berry at least temporarily kept the polarizing QB on top of the depth chart.

“We fully expect Baker to be our starter and to bounce back,” Berry said on a Zoom call. “We’re looking forward to Baker obviously getting healthy in the offseason and then putting good work through the spring and with his coaches for having the type of season that we know he can have moving forward.”

Mayfield first got hurt while trying to make a tackle in Week 2, and played most of the season with a protective harness that prevented his shoulder from popping out.

Berry reiterated coach Kevin Stefanski’s stance that the Browns were comfortable with the decision to keep playing an injured Mayfield because he was medically cleared and performed up to standards in practice.

“We felt good about the information that we had throughout the year and on hand,” he said. “The reality of it is we all wish that we and everybody across the team were able to perform better and allow us to reach the playoffs this year.”

Mayfield finished just 6-8 as a starter with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, including seven in his last three games. He ranked near the league’s bottom in several statistical categories, including completion percentage.

It’s not fair to lay all the blame for Cleveland’s slide on Mayfield, but that comes with the position.

Berry said part of the rationale for sticking with Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, is familiarity.

In a way, the Browns don’t have much of a choice.

They’ve already invested in Mayfield, exercising his $18.9 million contract option for next season. So unless they have a trade in mind or are convinced they can find a significant upgrade in free agency, Mayfield may be the Browns’ best option.

Berry hasn’t approached Mayfield’s agent about a long-term extension with the QB.

Members of the Shelby eighth grade boys basketball team include: front row, from left, Carter Seitz, Gavin Miller, brock Fisher, Jamison Keiser, Kaden Price, Cole Dorseay and brayden Devito. back row, coach Paul Lewis, Marcus Gumbert, Anthony Dawson, Avery Lambert, Kaden Fletcher, Travis Slone, Jon Mahon and assistant coach Jackson Lewis.

Members of the Shelby seventh grade boys basketball include: front row, from left, Gavin Lamb, brady Mcquillen, Karsyn Mantova, Conner Hartz, Gavin Ganzhorn, Kayne Cooke and Jayden Carver. back row, coach Dave Green, Alex bushey, bryce booker, braxton Dawson, Griffin Yeager, Cameron Townsend and branson Reed.