BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Baker Mayfield must have raised his voice to continue to be heard at the weekly press conference when a siren began to sound near the Browns’ training venue.
Someone asked the Cleveland quarterback if he had called an ambulance.
“I should have,” he replied.
At least Mayfield’s sense of humor is intact. The rest not so much.
The quarterback did not practice Wednesday, hoping that several injuries he claims will heal before he faces the Detroit Lions, who remain winless this week.
Mayfield has played most of the season with a torn cartilage and a fractured left shoulder, with which he does not shoot. He suffered a blow to his right knee in the loss to New England, which occurred a week after he injured his left foot against Cincinnati.
“This is probably the hardest hit I’ve ever been in my career and it’s not like it’s anything in particular, it’s multiple injuries,” said Mayfield, who limped a bit as he walked to the podium to speak to reporters.
“It’s that time of year.”
But it’s also a critical period for the Browns (5-5), whose playoff hopes fade with each loss.
After facing the Lions (0-8-1), they start a unique three-week streak in which they will face Baltimore, have a week off, and then go again against the Ravens (6-3) possibly with the title of the North Division of the American Conference at stake.
At the moment, Mayfield plans to play this week – he missed a game with a shoulder injury – but has warned he will not rush into practice.
“You don’t need to make things worse if I have to,” he said. “I have enough time until Sunday, then we will see what happens.”
Injuries have played a role in Mayfield’s inconsistency. Last week he completed 11 of 21 shipments for his career worst 73 yards before leaving the game with a knee injury.