The NFL preseason is about as meaningful as a team scrimmage to front-line starters in the NFL. That’s no different for a player such as Baker Mayfield, who has cemented his status as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
Not only is he the present for an organization that just had its deepest run to the playoffs in years, but he’s the long-term answer as the Browns enter 2021, looking to build off last year’s success.
As the Browns prepare for the start of the NFL regular season, Mayfield will not play in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. As Jared Mueller of the Browns Wire notes, this is a situation Mayfield has earned.
For Mayfield, injury has nothing to do with this decision. Instead, Mayfield is getting the respect many quality quarterbacks have gotten in recent years. After a very good 2020 season under (Kevin) Stefanski, including a great second half to the season, the Browns are showing their belief in the former Heisman Trophy winner.
It is also a sign of Mayfield’s development in Year 2 of an offense. For the first time in his professional career, he can build upon what he did last season. Camp Baker gave him a chance to lead the returning veterans in getting prepared for minicamp, and it showed as the offense has been mostly sharp so far. – Mueller
Mayfield had a really nice rookie season before struggling a bit in his second year. In 2020, though, under the leadership of Stefanski, the first-year head coach, Mayfield had a career year and the Browns went to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The preseason can provide reps for players looking to make the team or become more proficient with their coaches’ schemes. Preseason games also bring about risk as players can get injured in a meaningless game such as Neville Gallimore Friday night in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Stefanski’s showing confidence in his franchise quarterback by letting him sit on the sidelines in Game 1 of the preseason.