Browns’ Mayfield to have surgery, miss season finale
Baker Mayfield will undergo surgery on his injured left shoulder.
Regardless of when that operation takes place, though, the Browns quarterback will miss the Jan. 9 regular-season finale against the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals at Firstenergy Stadium.
“We are going to hold him out,” said head coach Kevin Stefanski. “Throughout this whole thing, we have tried to make the right decision based on all of the information available to us, constant dialogue with our medical staff and with Baker and all of those types of things. Obviously, frustrated for him, but just felt like that was the right thing to do for right now.”
After the Browns fell 26-14 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football,” Mayfield admitted for the first time publicly that he will have surgery to repair the completely torn labrum he suffered in his non-throwing shoulder in Week 2.
With the Browns eliminated from playoff contention, Mayfield could opt for surgery sooner than later and begin what's expected to be a four-to-six month rehabilitation process.
“I am going to get this shoulder fixed and be able to come back next year at 100%,” Mayfield said. “That's been decided.
Now when that's happening — that has not been decided.”
“Right now, I'm pretty damn beat up, to be honest with you,” he continued. “There's no way around it.”
Against the Steelers, Mayfield finished 16-of-38 passing (42.1%) for 185 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Stefanski declined to evaluate Mayfield's performance for the year.
“I will wait to talk about reflecting on this season,” he said. “There will be time for that. Ultimately, I am frustrated for Baker, not to be able to finish the season and those type of things, but anything past that, I will wait to discuss.”