Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to play Thursday despite a painful left shoulder. David Richard/Associated Press
BEREA, Ohio — Baker Mayfield wants to tough it out.
The Browns quarterback said he expects to play Thursday night against the Denver Broncos despite a painful left shoulder injury that has worsened since he hurt it a month ago while trying to make a tackle.
Asked if he expects to play, Mayfield said, “I do.”
Mayfield, who re-injured his non-throwing shoulder Sunday, was late joining his teammates on the practice field. He did throw a couple of passes at the very end of the portion open to reporters.
Before the workout, Mayfield said that ultimately the decision on whether he plays will come down to being able to perform at his best – and that might not be possible right now. He’s planning to test his pain tolerance with hard throws.
“I think whenever we decide to give me some of these reps and throw the pads on and simulate these throws, these game throws. If I’m not able to do and be 100 percent, that’s where I’d be at.
“I have to make that decision. Only I know how my body feels. And if anyone questions whether I’m hindering the team in going out there injured, that’s just not right. so it’s my decision, I get to say whether I’m able to play or not, and that’s just how it is.”
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Mayfield will be limited in practice, and that no decision has been made on his availability.
Case Keenum is Cleveland’s backup and the 33-year-old veteran, who has 62 career NFL starts, will play if Mayfield feels he can’t go. The Browns signed Keenum as a free agent before last season.
• Browns star back Nick Chubb will miss his second straight game with a calf injury, leaving Cleveland without its two best backs Thursday night.
Chubb was ruled out by Stefanski before practice. He also didn’t play against Arizona on Sunday, when running back Kareem Hunt suffered a calf injury that could sideline him for more than a month.
Hunt was placed on injured reserve – meaning he will miss at least three games – along with rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
RAVENS: Baltimore put tackle Ronnie Stanley on injured reserve. Stanley spent the latter half of last season on IR as well because of an ankle injury, and he’s played only in the season opener this year.
“At this point in time, my ankle isn’t where it should be,” Stanley said in a statement. “This is the best decision not only for my health, but also for the team long term. I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”
Stanley has been a regular starter for the Ravens since beginning his NFL career in 2016. Baltimore traded tackle Orlando Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason for draft picks, obviously not anticipating that Stanley’s recovery would go the way it has.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville cut veteran kicker Josh Lambo, two days after unheralded Matt Wright hit two field goals from beyond 50 yards in the final minutes to beat Miami and end the NFL’s longest losing streak in 44 years.
Lambo, the league’s most accurate kicker between 2017 and 2020, was inactive the last three games while dealing with confidence issues. The Jaguars (1-5) are on the hook for the remainder of Lambo’s $3.5 million salary in 2021, a deal that likely includes offset language that would allow the team to recoup some money if he signs elsewhere.
Lambo missed five kicks in Jacksonville’s first three games: three field goals and two extra points. He was sidelined 12 games last year with a hip injury that required surgery, but he said before Week 1 that his confidence “is as high as ever” despite also missing kicks in training camp and the preseason.
STEELERS: Coach Mike Tomlin says he still hasn’t received any “clarity” on why replay officials halted play in the final seconds of regulation last Sunday against Seattle.
The Seahawks were trailing by three with time winding down when wide receiver D.K. Metcalf caught the ball in Pittsburgh territory and turned upfield instead of stepping out of bounds.
Metcalf fumbled and teammate Freddie Swain recovered with the clock running. Seattle rushed to spike the ball, with the clock on the scoreboard — which is not the official game clock — hitting all zeroes, appearing to signal a Pittsburgh victory.
Officials, however, halted the celebration, saying Metcalf’s catch was under review. The ruling on the field stood and the game clock was reset to 3 seconds remaining. Seattle quarterback Geno Smith spiked the ball with a second to go and Jason Myers came on to kick a 43-yard field goal that forced overtime.
While Pittsburgh ended up winning 23-20, Tomlin called the episode “an embarrassment” in the immediate aftermath.
COWBOYS: Safety Damontae Kazee was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in a Dallas suburb, police said.
The Colony police Sgt. Aaron Woodard said Kazee was booked on a Class B misdemeanor. Kazee was released around midday after posting $2,500 bond, Woodard said.
Kazee was pulled over in the suburb next to Frisco, the location of team headquarters about 30 miles north of Dallas. Kazee is in his first season with the Cowboys after signing as a free agent.
The 28-year-old has started all six games for the Cowboys (5-1), who have won five consecutive games. Dallas is off this week. The next game is Oct. 31 at Minnesota.
BEARS: Chicago placed linebacker Robert Quinn on the reserve/COVID-19 list, possibly leaving them without one of their top pass rushers when they visit Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The resurgent Quinn is second on the team to Khalil Mack with 5 1/2 sacks. The two-time Pro Bowl pick had two last season – his first in Chicago. The Bears (3-3) are tied with Minnesota for the league lead with 21 sacks.
Chicago placed defensive back Deon Bush on injured reserve with a quad injury. He was hurt in a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
BRONCOS: Teddy Bridgewater gingerly limped out to practice and then stumbled onto the podium afterward, still feeling the effects of the battering he endured 48 hours earlier.
“Oh! Short week. Almost fell,” said Bridgewater, who was hit 17 times Sunday by the Las Vegas Raiders.
What really left Bridgewater hurting, however, was right guard Graham Glasgow, who stepped on his left foot just as he delivered a late touchdown pass to Noah Fant that made Denver’s deflating 34-24 loss look a little less one-sided.
The Broncos (3-3) are expecting Bridgewater to start Thursday night at Cleveland, where the Browns (3-3) are dealing with a similar rash of injuries and suspicions about their season being on the brink.
GIANTS: New York placed starting left tackle Andrew Thomas on injured reserve along with wide receiver/kickoff returner C.J. Board.
Both were hurt on Sunday in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Thomas, the fourth pick overall in 2020, has foot and ankle problems. He missed a game against Dallas the previous week because of a foot injury and sprained an ankle in the 38-11 loss Sunday.
Board broke his arm on a kickoff return.
Thomas must sit out at least three games before becoming eligible to return to the roster. The earliest he can return is the Nov. 22 Monday night game at Tampa Bay.
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