The Browns have a decision to make. Should they let Case Keenum start against the Denver Broncos? If Baker Mayfield’s shoulder doesn’t require surgery, the Browns would be wise to let Keenum take on the Broncos.
Baker Mayfield is a tall quarterback and the Browns would be wise to let Case Keenum take on the Broncos. Read more in detail here: baker mayfield height.
Highlights of the article:
- Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury hasn’t finished the season for the Clevleand Browns (3-3).
- Mayfield will make a push to play, but Case Keenum is capable to doing the job.
- Even without Mayfield, the Denver Broncos (3-3) remain beatable.
Baker Mayfield is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s hardest quarterbacks. That can’t and won’t be taken away from him.
As a result, the Cleveland Browns would be wise to rest their star quarterback when they face the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.
Mayfield will be eager to participate, and the Browns will need all the assistance they can get given their current injury situation. They’re also on a two-game losing skid and are now ranked third in the AFC North.
There’s a lot on the line for Cleveland, but it’s not worth jeopardizing Mayfield’s long-term health.
Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury seems to be a non-issue for the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 in the tunnel before a game against the Minnesota Vikings | Adam Bettcher/Getty Images
Cleveland has some positive news with Mayfield’s left shoulder issue. According to ESPN, the Browns do not think the injury will keep them out of the season or need surgery. The story does include the disclaimer that Mayfield is awaiting a second evaluation from his own physician.
The Browns aren’t out of the woods yet, but it seems like good news is on the way. A season-ending injury to Mayfield would undoubtedly jeopardize the remainder of the Browns’ 2021 season, thus the whole city of Clevland will be watching for the findings of the MRI scan.
Remember, Mayfield has been battling this ailment since injuring his shoulder while attempting to make a tackle after throwing an interception in Cleveland’s 31-21 victory against the Houston Texans (1-5). Mayfield has been wearing a harness on his shoulder and has been able to play despite the injury, although he did re-injure himself in the Browns’ Week 6 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals (6-0).
J.J. Watt tripped up Mayfield as quarterback was rushing to his left. On the play, he dropped the ball (which Arizona recovered), and he landed awkwardly on his shoulder, obviously in agony.
The Browns’ quarterback was knocked down for many minutes but returned to the game until garbage time. He was spotted with a shoulder sling after the game, which leads us to today.
Case Keenum can lead the Browns to victory.
While no team likes to send the ball off to their backup quarterback with the season on the line, Case Keenum is not your typical quarterback. If the Browns use him on Thursday Night Football, as they should, they’ll be relying on a backup quarterback who has started games before.
In 2017, Keenum had an outstanding season as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings (3-3). He led Minnesota to an 11-3 record as a starter, throwing for 3,547 yards and 22 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. That season, he was a key part of the Vikings’ NFC Championship run. Kevin Stefanski, who was Keenum’s quarterback coach at the time, is the icing on top of the Browns’ backup quarterback sundae.
They have a history together. There’s a reason the Browns signed Keenum to serve as Mayfield’s backup quarterback.
Stefanski’s scheme is familiar to Keenum, and he’s proved to be successful with it. No, Keenum isn’t a full-time starter at this stage in his career, but he can definitely fill in for Mayfield and allow him time to rest his shoulder.
Even if surgery isn’t required, it’s obvious that Mayfield would benefit from some rest. He’ll be upset, but it’s the truth.
Even without Mayfield, the Denver Broncos are beatable.
The Denver Broncos’ head coach, Vic Fangio, watches an NFL preseason game versus the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field | Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Even with a backup quarterback leading the way for the Browns, the Broncos remain beatable.
Denver had a strong start to the season, winning three consecutive games, but look at who they faced.
The Broncos defeated the New York Giants (1-5), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5), and New York Jets all three times (1-4). In 2021, the three clubs had a total three victories.
After games against “serious” clubs like the Baltimore Ravens (5-1), Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3), and Las Vegas Raiders, the Broncos are currently on a three-game losing skid (4-2).
Yes, Denver head coach Vic Fangio is a defensive genius with a top-five defense this season, but he’s 15-23 in three seasons with the Broncos and is firmly on the hot seat during this three-game losing skid.
The Browns defense isn’t quite as good as Denver’s, but Myles Garrett is playing like a defensive player of the year candidate with eight sacks, and his defense will be facing a Broncos offense that isn’t quite in sync. Teddy Bridgewater threw three interceptions in Denver’s defeat to Las Vegas, and he’s also injured going into Thursday night’s game. In their Week 4 defeat to the Ravens, the Broncos scored only seven points.
The Browns have a chance to win this game on all fronts, and they don’t need Mayfield to do so.
Of course, he’ll want to play, but his long-term health will be much more essential for the Browns in the long run.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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