Browns QB Baker Mayfield says harness on left shoulder shouldn’t affect throws, laments misses on Sunday: ‘Just gotta hit those’

BEREA, Ohio -- Baker Mayfield confirmed on Wednesday what was obvious to those watching Sunday’s game against the Vikings or anyone who saw photos after: he is wearing a harness on his left shoulder.

But, just like he has tried to avoid doing since initially injuring the shoulder attempting to tackle Texans safety Justin Reid after an interception, Mayfield wouldn’t use the harness as an excuse for his performance in Minnesota, saying the harness doesn’t affect his throws.

“It shouldn’t, no,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield completed just 15 of 33 passes in Sunday’s 14-7 win in Minnesota for 155 yards and a quarterback rating of 59.5. His completion percentage, which was 81.6 percent after the Texans game, has dropped to 65.5 percent. While there’s likely some regression to the mean baked in, a 53.3 percent completion percentage the last two weeks is still concerning.

The dip comes after the injury, when Mayfield, after taking a hit from Reid, ran back to the team’s locker room at FirstEnergy Stadium and had his shoulder popped back in. He didn’t miss an offensive snap. The durable Mayfield hasn’t missed a game since taking over as the team’s starter in Week 4 of his rookie season.

Mayfield’s rough outing on Sunday left him ruing his performance. He called it a “piss-poor” game afterwards on Sunday and struck a similar tone on Wednesday.

“Missing the throws, and then the same problems,” Mayfield said. “Hitting the guys that are open, taking what’s there.”

He pointed to a number of specific throws, including an overthrow of Odell Beckham Jr. in the red zone, a second-and-goal miss from the 3 when Beckham ran in and then out towards the back pylon only to see the ball sail over his head.

He pointed to the deep miss to Beckham in the fourth quarter which would have iced the game, citing a miscommunication.

“That’s a specific route and concept for a late-game hitter,” Mayfield said. “He’s seeing one thing, if you go back and look at the film you see the safety playing over the top, that’s what I’m looking at and then he’s seeing, as soon as he breaks out, that the safety attaches back to (wide receiver Anthony) Schwartz, so it’s just little things, and it’s probably about a quarter of a second off from me being able to see the safety attach back on to Schwartz instead of playing over the top.”

There was a deep out to Harrison Bryant Mayfield sailed above his tight end.

“Just gotta hit those,” Mayfield said.

It was a theme of Mayfield’s weekly press conference as the Browns turn their attention towards a trip to Los Angeles to face the 3-1 Chargers, who have won back-to-back games against the Chiefs and Raiders.

Mayfield seemed OK with the process on Sunday, but unhappy with the results.

“I think we had our shots there, just didn’t hit them,” he said. “I think my eyes were in the right spot for the most part, just got to make the plays.”

What about his footwork, a point of emphasis for offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt since their first offseason together in 2020?

“I think my footwork was clean,” Mayfield said. “It’s just about making the plays when they’re there. I really don’t think it’s that complicated. Everybody’s going to try and make an excuse. I pretty much hit on it after the game, just gotta make the damn play.”

What about his timing with Beckham? The two got solid work in during the offseason and training camp, but it was all against air. Is it just different in games?

“It’s definitely different timing when it comes to game reps when I’m having to get the ball out with guys barreling down and he’s seeing a different thing, his game speed is a little bit different, too, so there’s definitely that,” he said, “but we have to take advantage of our opportunities and it starts with me.”

One thing Mayfield didn’t look to do Sunday or Wednesday was search for an excuse, be it chemistry, a shoulder harness or anything else. He said when he’s going through a game like Sunday’s in which he’s struggling, he’s just trying to find a play or some scheme to get back on rhythm or find a groove.

“Find a couple different completions here and there, get the offense rolling, so that’s what you look for when it’s that type of game,” he said, “but you have to make the plays when they’re there.”

Aside from having to stand at the podium Wednesday and answer more questions about the Vikings game, Mayfield said he’s already turned the page on his performance.

“It’s Baker. He’s going to come out here, he’s going to have a good day of work which I think it starts here on Wednesday,” running back Nick Chubb said. “It’s the biggest day of the week, the first big practice and, I mean, we all trust in him. We’ve all been there. I’ve been there plenty of times. It’s just about the bounce back, which he always has and so I know we all trust in that and believe in him.”

“Every game is not going to be perfect for any of us,” tight end David Njoku said. “We just have to keep being there for each other and keep working hard together, and everything will work out.”

What Mayfield saw on Sunday was what everyone else saw -- a game that could have looked different from its 14-7 outcome had he managed to connect on a few more passes. It’s really that simple.

“Just those throws,” he said. “You look at completing some of those and you’re looking at a completely different ballgame.”

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