Baker Mayfield Injury News & Updates

Mayfield completed 16 of 28 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception while adding five carries for 39 yards and another score in the Buccaneers' 44-32 loss to the Bills on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Mayfield fought hard in trademark fashion all afternoon, often taking matters into his own hands when an aggressive Bills defense applied pressure. Buffalo's talented secondary did limit Mayfield to his third lowest passing yardage tally of the campaign. Mayfield connected with Sean Tucker for his one touchdown pass from 28 yards out, a play he preceded with a four-yard scoring run early in the second quarter. Mayfield and the Bucs next set their sights on a Week 12 road showdown against the Rams next Sunday night.

Mayfield completed 28 of 43 passes for 273 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

Mayfield's final numbers were certainly appealing from a fantasy perspective, although some of the yardage came on a last-ditch drive that he capped off with his final touchdown pass of the day, an 11-yard strike to Tez Johnson. That play was preceded by 21- and 10-yard TDs to Emeka Egbuka and Johnson, respectively, giving Mayfield his first three-touchdown-pass tally since Week 1. The veteran signal-caller's numbers were all the more impressive considering the ongoing absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion), Chris Godwin (fibula) and Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot), and he figures to once again shoulder a heavy workload through the air when the Buccaneers face the Bills on the road in Week 11.

Mayfield (knee) completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 152 yards, no touchdowns and one lost fumble while recording no rushing attempts in Sunday's 23-3 win over New Orleans.

Tampa Bay's defense (one touchdown), running game (one touchdown) and special teams (11 points) generated all Tampa Bay's scoring in Sunday's one-sided victory. The unfavorable game script and Mayfield's first lost fumble of the season resulted in his worst fantasy score this campaign. The early MVP candidate's 152 passing yards also checked in as his lowest total through eight starts. Mayfield is still providing fantasy managers with 1,919 passing yards and 13 touchdowns (three turnovers) following the low-use outing, putting him on pace for a third consecutive 4,000-yard season. The 6-2 Buccaneers will enter a much-needed bye in Week 9, hopefully giving Mayfield more of his weapons back when play resumes against the Patriots on Nov. 9.

Mayfield (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday.

One day removed from being limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Mayfield bumped all the way back to full, ensuring that he'll be under center for the Buccaneers on Sunday at New Orleans. Who will be joining him remains to be seen with WR Mike Evans (concussion/collarbone) out for most of the rest of the season and RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WR Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out for Week 8. On a positive note, rookie standout WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) followed up Wednesday's absence with a limited session Thursday, meaning he's trending in a positive direction to be among Mayfield's top targets this weekend.

Mayfield was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a knee injury, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Mayfield was stymied by the Lions defense in Monday's 24-9 loss, completing 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also didn't record a carry after being effective as a scrambler through the first six games of the campaign. Perhaps the knee issue was partly responsible, and he'll now have two chances to get back to full this week or else risk entering the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest at New Orleans.

Mayfield completed 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Buccaneers' 24-9 loss to the Lions on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay.

Mayfield went into the game with both Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka available despite their respective hamstring injuries, but he ended up losing the former to a shoulder injury and concussion in the first half. Mayfield had already been struggling to get the ball to Evans -- the pass on which he suffered the pair of injuries was his fourth target without a catch -- and he saw only marginal improvement over the rest of the night even though the Lions were playing with an extremely short-handed secondary. Mayfield saw a two-game interception-less streak come to an end as well, and it remains to be seen if he'll have either Evans or Chris Godwin (fibula) at his disposal for a Week 8 road matchup versus the Saints on Sunday.

Mayfield completed 17 of 23 pass attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns while taking three carries for 14 yards in Sunday's 30-19 win over the 49ers.

Mayfield produced a sterling 139.0 passer rating against a 49ers' defense that was helpless after losing LB Fred Warner (ankle) early in the contest. The Buccaneers also suffered a key loss early on when WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) exited the game after recording just two receptions. This meant that Mayfield had to finish off the win sans his three top weapons, with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) in street clothes Sunday. The 30-year-old Mayfield overcame expectations and produced his fifth multi-score game through six starts. With the Buccaneers visiting the Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 7, it will be important for fantasy managers to note which receivers Mayfield will have at his disposal before making roster decisions.

Mayfield completed 29 of 33 pass attempts for 379 yards and two touchdowns while rushing five times for 15 yards in Sunday's 38-35 win over the Seahawks.

Mayfield flirted with perfection in a masterful performance that saw him miss just four pass attempts while committing zero turnovers. The 30-year-old was especially sharp in the clutch when he led a pair of five-play drives that took up a little over one minute of game clock to give Tampa Bay the 10 points needed to secure victory. The loss of star WR Mike Evans (hamstring) hasn't hampered Mayfield and the passing offense, as the signal-caller is averaging 334.0 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns in the two games sans Evans. Mayfield will look to build off of the momentum of his cleanest outing when the Buccaneers host the 49ers next Sunday.

Mayfield (knee/right biceps) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Seattle, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

After sitting out Wednesday's practice due to knee and right biceps injuries, Mayfield logged back-to-back full sessions to end Week 5 prep, clearing him to continue to lead Tampa Bay's offense Sunday. He'll be without the services of RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WR Mike Evans (hamstring) this weekend, though, meaning the key skill-position players available to the quarterback are RBs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, WRs Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard and TE Cade Otton.

Mayfield (knee/right biceps) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Mayfield sat out Wednesday's walkthrough due to knee and right biceps injuries, but his return to all activity one day later indicates the DNP was merely for maintenance purposes. He's been slinging it around this season, completing 83 of 139 passes (60 percent) for 904 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception through four games. The potential exists for both WR Mike Evans (hamstring) and RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) to be sidelined Sunday at Seattle, so Mayfield's primary pass catchers Week 5 may be WRs Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard, TE Cade Otton and RBs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.

Mayfield (knee/biceps) was spotted practicing during the portion of Thursday's session that was open to the media, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Mayfield sat out Wednesday's walk-through session due to knee and right biceps injuries, though his absence may have been more of a maintenance day than anything. His presence on the field Thursday is a good sign that Mayfield will be available to play this weekend in Seattle, though it won't be known until after practice concludes whether the quarterback was a limited or full participant. Assuming he's ultimately cleared in advance of Sunday's contest, Mayfield will be working behind a beat-up offensive line and could be without two key players in running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and wideout Mike Evans (hamstring), neither of whom has been able to practice so far this week.

Mayfield didn't take part in Wednesday's walkthrough due to knee and right biceps injuries, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Mayfield was among a number of key skill-position players that were held out of drills to begin Week 5 prep, the others being RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WRs Mike Evans (hamstring) and Sterling Shepard (foot). Meanwhile, WR Chris Godwin (ankle) emerged from his first game action since last season as a full participant Wednesday. Mayfield was limited in all three sessions last week due to a right biceps injury, so the addition of the knee issue indicates he's a bit more banged-up this time around. He'll have two more chances to practice this week to prove his health ahead of Sunday's contest at Seattle.

Mayfield completed 22 of 40 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding two rushes for 13 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-25 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Mayfield had only managed to throw in Friday's practice this past week due to a biceps issue, and the combination of that issue and a sticky Eagles secondary led to the veteran signal-caller's second-lowest yardage completion percentage of the season (55.0 percent). Ironically, he also mustered his best passing yardage total yet in 2025, thanks in large part to 77- and 72-yard touchdown passes to Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving, respectively. Mayfield also had a pair of gutsy runs, and considering he was playing without Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin was making his season debut, his numbers have to be considered encouraging in any sense. Mayfield will aim to get the Bucs right back in the win column during a tough Week 5 road matchup against the Seahawks next Sunday afternoon.

Mayfield (right biceps) is listed as active Sunday against the Eagles.

Mayfield operated with a cap on his reps during Week 4 prep due to a right biceps injury and wasn't seen throwing passes until Friday's practice. Despite entering the weekend as questionable, he'll lead the Buccaneers offense as he normally does Sunday, with Chris Godwin (foot) swapping in for an absent Mike Evans (hamstring) at wide receiver. Godwin is making his season debut after completing his recovery from the dislocated left ankle that he suffered Week 7 of the 2024 campaign, so he may not be running on all cylinders for at least a few games. In any case, Mayfield's top available skill-position talents will be RB Bucky Irving, WRs Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard and TE Cade Otton.

Mayfield (right biceps) is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Mayfield, who was limited at practice this week, is officially listed as questionable, with coach Todd Bowles having previously noted Friday that the quarterback "should be OK for Sunday." Also trending toward active status versus Philadelphia is wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle), and the duo's Week 4 status, either way, is set to be confirmed ahead of the first wave of games Sunday, with the Buccaneers kicking off at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Mayfield (biceps) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, but he's trending in the right direction to play, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

After missing Wednesday's practice, Mayfield returned Thursday but wasn't seen throwing passes. He took that step Friday, and apparently made it through practice without a major setback, putting him on the right side of 'questionable' ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday.

Mayfield (right biceps) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Mayfield maintained his activity level from one day prior and also was seen wearing a sleeve on his right throwing arm but not actually attempting passes Thursday, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Speaking on Mayfield's preparation, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard told Stroud, "Yeah, he was limited. ... He's in all, of course, all the meetings, all the walkthroughs, and he does such a good job of preparing already, a lot like, what [backup QB] Teddy [Bridgewater] was doing. Everybody's on the same page." There doesn't seem to be much worry about Mayfield's availability for Sunday's game against the Eagles, but who he may be throwing to is up in the air with Mike Evans (hamstring) expected to miss time and Chris Godwin (foot) still not cleared to return to action.

Mayfield was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a right biceps injury.

It's not ideal that the injury is to his throwing arm, but Mayfield's ability to practice in any capacity suggests he's on track to play Sunday against the Eagles. WR Mike Evans (hamstring) isn't expected to play, but Chris Godwin (ankle) is closing in on his 2025 debut after upgrading to full practice participation Wednesday.

Mayfield completed 19 of 29 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Jets. He added 44 rushing yards on four carries.

Five Chase McLaughlin field goals and a 55-yard Jamel Dean INT return for a TD accounted for most of Tampa Bay's scoring on the afternoon, but Mayfield did hit Mike Evans for a five-yard strike in the second quarter, giving him a 6:0 TD:INT to begin the season. Evans left the game with a hamstring injury late in the contest, but Chris Godwin (ankle) could be ready to return next week and rookie Emeka Egbuka has already made a significant impact through his first three NFL game, so Mayfield should still have dangerous downfield options available if his veteran No. 1 wideout is sidelined for a Week 4 tilt against the Eagles.

Mayfield completed 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding three carries for 33 yards in the Buccaneers' 20-19 win over the Texans on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay.

Mayfield was in danger of a second straight sub-200-yard performance to open the season, but the veteran signal-caller came alive on Tampa Bay's game-winning drive. Mayfield took the Bucs a total of 80 yards on 11 plays in just over two minutes, completing seven of nine passes while adding a 15-yard scramble before Rachaad White capped off the march with a two-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, Mayfield also connected with Emeka Egbuka on a 15-yard scoring pass for the rookie's third touchdown over the first two games. Despite completing just 60.0 percent of his passes through the first pair of contests, Mayfield will also take a sparkling 5:0 TD:INT into a Week 3 home matchup against the Jets on Sunday afternoon.

Mayfield completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while adding five rushes for 39 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Mayfield was considerably less efficient than usual while facing a feisty Falcons defense in a rowdy dome environment, but after some early struggles, the veteran signal-caller was able to awaken the Buccaneers offense with a 30-yard scoring strike to rookie Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield would subsequently connect with Bucky Irving from nine yards out in the third quarter, and he capped off what turned out to be a rewarding fantasy day with a critical 25-yard touchdown toss to Egbuka with just under one minute remaining to erase a 20-17 deficit. Mayfield also finished as Tampa Bay's leading rusher, and his quick chemistry with Egbuka bodes well heading into a tough Week 2 road matchup against the Texans on Monday night, Sept. 15.

Mayfield won't play in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo, WDAE Radio's Rock Riley reports.

The Buccaneers used some starters in their second preseason game, but Mayfield wasn't one of them. They'll start Kyle Trask at QB this Saturday, followed by Teddy Bridgewater, allowing the two to continue their competition for the backup QB job. Mayfield, meanwhile, will be on the sideline to keep him healthy ahead of a Week 1 game at Atlanta. The Buccaneers may not have WR Chris Godwin (ankle), WR Jalen McMillan (neck) or LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) available for the contest, but they seem confident in first-round pick Emeka Egbuka stepping up to replace Godwin/McMillan, at least.

Coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game at Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bowles changed his tune from comments he made following Thursday's joint practice with the Steelers, when he told Stroud that every Buccaneers starter on offense except for WR Mike Evans would play. The new reality was keyed by Bowles watching tape of the session and now will leave Kyle Trask to direct the first-teamers to begin Saturday's contest. Beyond Trask, veteran Teddy Bridgewater and undrafted rookie Connor Bazelak will handle any QB reps that don't go to Trask. Mayfield has just more chance for exhibition action ahead of a Week 1 road matchup with the Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield and every starter on offense aside from Mike Evans will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield will be without not only Evans, who will rest Saturday, but also Chris Godwin (ankle), who remains on the active/PUP list without a clear timetable to return as he works his way back from surgery undergone to address a dislocated left ankle. Tampa Bay's impressive pass-catching depth will still leave Mayfield with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan at his disposal Saturday, however, with TE Cade Otton (hamstring) also potentially ready to return to action.

Mayfield isn't participating in Saturday's preseason game against Tennessee, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Baker is among a group of healthy Buccaneers starters who aren't playing, including fellow offensive standouts Bucky Irving and Mike Evans. Kyle Trask is getting a chance to lead Tampa Bay's offense early in the contest. Teddy Bridgewater and/or rookie Connor Bazelak should get a look behind center late in the game.

Mayfield (hand) is participating in Tuesday's practice, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Mayfield missed two training camp sessions after suffering a hand contusion Thursday, but as head coach Todd Bowles indicated Saturday would be the case, he's back on the field to begin the new week of practice and ready to resume handling first-team reps. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are expected to sign veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is in the building for a physical Monday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Bridgewater figures to provide Kyle Trask with strong competition for the No. 2 gig behind Mayfield, with Tampa Bay's preseason opener against the Titans on Aug. 9 approaching.

Head coach Todd Bowles relayed that Mayfield (hand) will not participate in Saturday's practice but is expected to return to the field next week, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Mayfield suffered a contusion on his throwing hand during Thursday's training camp practice. There's no urgency to have him return to the practice field given that it's training camp, but the veteran should be back to work with the first-team offense in the coming week before the Buccaneers' preseason opener against the Titans on Aug. 9. Kyle Trask will likely get the lion's share of reps with the first-team offense in Mayfield's absence.

Mayfield (hand) won't practice Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Per the report, Mayfield suffered a contusion on his throwing hand during Thursday's session. The QB subsequently underwent scans as a precaution, which revealed no significant injury. With Mayfield now considered day-to-day, Kyle Trask and Connor Bazelak are in line to see added reps Friday.

Mayfield and the Buccaneers agreed Monday to a reworked contract that gives the quarterback $30 million guaranteed in 2026, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract after throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2023, only to come back in 2024 with 4,500 yards and 41 TDs. He's now drastically underpaid relative to other quarterbacks, but this show of good faith by the Buccaneers should at least buy them until next offseason. Tampa Bay's offense is well positioned to continue the success, albeit with LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) expected to miss the start of the season and Mayfield now playing for his third offensive coordinator (Josh Grizzard) in as many years as Tampa Bay's starting QB.

Mayfield's All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after undergoing knee surgery on Tuesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

This means that Wirfs will miss at least the first four games of the season. Those games include a big division game at Atlanta on the road in Week 1, a tough road game at Houston in Week 2 and a Week 4 matchup against the Eagles. With Mayfield was already a regression candidate following a career year and the departure of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, this news is a significant setback as well.

Mayfield completed 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed seven times for 23 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night. He also lost a fumble.

Mayfield was nearly perfect in every sense, even finishing the game with a 146.5 quarterback rating. However, his one error was critical, as his early fourth-quarter fumble on an attempted handoff was recovered by the Commanders' Bobby Wagner at the Buccaneers' 13-yard line and was followed by a go-ahead touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin four plays later. While Mayfield would drive Tampa Bay down 61 yards over eight plays to knot the game up at 20-20, the veteran signal-caller never got another opportunity with the ball. The disappointing finish to the season aside, Mayfield counts the 2024 campaign as his best yet as a pro, as he finished with career highs in completions (407), pass attempts (570), completion percentage (71.4), passing yards (4,500), touchdown passes (41) and rushing yards (378) across 17 regular-season games. Mayfield also tied a career high with three rushing scores, and about the only blemish on his season stat line was the second-highest interception tally of his caree

Mayfield completed 21 of 32 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed nine times for 68 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Mayfield's solid but ordinary numbers tell the tale of a game where he had to work for everything he achieved against a feisty Saints defense. The veteran signal-caller also had to frequently take matters in his own hands, leading to a season high in rushing yards. Mayfield extended his streak of games with multiple touchdowns to five by connecting with Payne Durham (six yards) and Jalen McMillan (32 yards) for second-half scoring tosses, and he was able to get Mike Evans the final five yards he needed to get to the 1,000-yard mark for the season on the last play of the contest. Having helped usher Tampa Bay to the NFC South crown, Mayfield will now turn his attention to a to-be-determined matchup on Super Wild Card Weekend.

Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed once for two yards in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

The Buccaneers were in must-win mode as a whole, and Mayfield was the personification of that mindset right from the start of the lopsided victory. The veteran signal-caller capped off a crisp opening drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, and he connected with his No. 1 target again from one yard out in the second quarter. Mayfield would also facilitate end-zone trips for Jalen McMillan (10, 16 yards) and Payne Durham (five yards) before the afternoon was over, tying a career high and establishing a new season-best tally in scoring tosses. Mayfield also pushed his career-high season touchdown total to 39 with fourth straight multi-TD effort, and he'll have a chance to build on all of his stellar numbers during a Week 18 home battle versus the Saints.

Mayfield completed 31 of 43 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Cowboys. He added three rushing attempts for 42 yards.

Mayfield was quiet for most of the first half but heated up on Tampa Bay's last possession before halftime. He completed three passes of 15-plus yards on the drive before capping it with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan. That improvement didn't last long, though, as the Buccaneers produced just three points in the third quarter. Mayfield was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter but was cleared to return without missing a play. He was intercepted on the next drive but then bounced back with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Miller with 2:36 remaining to kickstart a Buccaneers comeback that was gaining steam when a Rachaad White fumble dashed Tampa Bay's hopes. No longer in control of their own destiny in the NFC South, Mayfield and the Buccaneers will try to bounce back in Week 17 against the Panthers.

Mayfield (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Mayfield was held out of drills Wednesday due to a knee injury, but his return to all activity one day later sets him up to continue to direct the Buccaneers offense Sunday at Dallas, whose defense has given up the second-most combined touchdowns (21 passing, eight rushing) to opposing quarterbacks in 14 contests this season.

Mayfield (knee) didn't practice Wednesday.

In addition to Mayfield, three key skill-position players for the Buccaneers -- WR Mike Evans (rest), TE Cade Otton (knee) and WR Sterling Shepard (foot) -- sat out the first practice of Week 16 prep, while RB Bucky Irving (back/hip) was limited. As a result, the group will be monitored as the week goes on to see who will be available for Mayfield in the event the quarterback also is out there Sunday at Dallas.

Mayfield completed 22 of 27 pass attempts for 288 yards, four touchdowns and one interception while rushing twice for 25 yards in Sunday's 40-17 rout of the Chargers.

Mayfield posted a stellar 135.3 passer rating en route to a lopsided victory between cross-conference playoff hopefuls. The four scores also helped the 2018 first-overall pick set a new high-water mark in touchdown passes (32) in a single season. Mayfield continues to prove that last year's breakout with Tampa Bay was no fluke, as he is now 383 yards away from recording consecutive 4,000-yard campaigns. It would take a season-best effort against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 to accomplish the feat, but the late-blooming QB makes for a strong fantasy play whether or not he hits the 4K mark in passing yards next Sunday.

Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 295 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while adding two rushes for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Mayfield ultimately finished with an impressive yardage and touchdown total, but his road to those numbers was rocky at times. The veteran signal-caller took four sacks from an aggressive Raiders defense and tossed a pair of first-half interceptions following a fast start. Prior to the miscues, Mayfield had capped off the Buccaneers' first two drives with touchdown passes to Jalen McMillan (15 yards) and Rachaad White (five yards). He also came on late after Tampa Bay's first two second-half drives ended in punts, capping off a five-play game-sealing drive with a 29-yard scoring strike to McMillan. Mayfield does have four interceptions over his last two games, but he's also tossed four touchdowns in that span going into a Week 15 road matchup against the Chargers.

Mayfield (Achilles/knee) practiced fully Thursday.

Mayfield was absent for two plays during this past Sunday's overtime win at Carolina. Afterward, coach Todd Bowles relayed that Mayfield was dealing with some soreness after he was cleated in the back of his right leg by a Panthers defender, but the Buccaneers also weren't worried about the quarterback's Week 14 availability, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. On Wednesday's estimated injury report, Mayfield was listed as full at the team's walkthrough with Achilles and knee issues. He followed that up one day later with another uncapped session, thereby paving the way for him to continue to lead Tampa Bay's offense Sunday against the Raiders.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Mayfield (leg) would have been a full participant in practice even had the team conducted more than a walk-through session, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Bowles mentioned that Mayfield was dealing with right leg soreness following the team's 26-23 overtime win over the Panthers in Week 13, and the standout QB was indeed spotted limping in Tampa Bay's locker room. It looks, though, like Mayfield has already recovered from any physical limitations, putting him on track both to practice in full Thursday, and to suit up without restrictions versus the Raiders on Sunday. Mayfield accumulated just 235 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions versus Carolina, but a home matchup against Las Vegas will put him in solid position to bounce back Week 14, health permitting.

Head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield is dealing with some soreness after being cleated in the back of his right leg during Sunday's 26-23 overtime win over the Panthers, but the Buccaneers anticipate the quarterback being ready to play in the team's Week 14 game versus the Raiders, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Mayfield missed just two of the Buccaneers' offensive snaps in the overtime victory, completing 21 of 33 pass attempts for 235 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while carrying three times for eight yards on the day. The 29-year-old looks to have avoided anything serious, but he was spotted walking around with a limp in the locker room following the contest. Though the Buccaneers expect Mayfield to be healthy enough to play through the injury next Sunday at home versus the Raiders, his practice activity could be more limited than usual leading up to that contest.

Mayfield completed 21 of 33 passes for 235 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win against the Panthers. He added three rushes for eight yards.

Mayfield had a poor showing for much of the game, as he only managed two scoring drives through three quarters while going 10-for-21 with a two-yard touchdown, two interceptions and 121 yards. However, he closed the game by going 11-for-12 for 114 yards, while leading both game-tying and game-winning drives at the close of the fourth quarter and overtime, respectively. Mayfield also played banged up for much of the second half, which caused him to miss a few plays. Per Joe Person of The Athletic, he was also spotted with a boot on his right foot after the game.

Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed four times for 29 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 30-7 win over the Giants on Sunday. He also committed two fumbles, losing one, and recovered a loose ball as well.

Mayfield had an eventful afternoon in the lopsided win, bouncing back from consecutive lackluster efforts through the air to post his highest sub-300-yard total of the campaign. Mayfield did see a season-long streak of games with at least one touchdown pass snapped, but he had an even more direct hand in a score with his third rushing touchdown of the season on a leaping 10-yard run just before halftime. Mayfield welcomed Mike Evans back from a three-game absence due to hamstring injury by connecting with him on five occasions for 68 yards, and the veteran signal-caller also suffered a scare on a neck stinger in the fourth quarter but didn't miss a play, and he'll line up for another productive afternoon when the Bucs visit the Panthers for a Week 13 divisional clash.

Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 116 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added three rushing yards on three carries in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the 49ers on Sunday. He also committed three fumbles, recovering two.

Mayfield averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt and was sacked twice, and he ultimately was frustrated repeatedly while working against a talented defense with a short-handed pass-catching corps. Mayfield couldn't facilitate anything more than a 39-yard performance for his pass catchers on the way to his lowest yardage total of the season. However, Mayfield was able to drive Tampa Bay into position for a game-tying field goal late before San Francisco answered with one of its own to win the game. Mayfield and the Bucs now head into a Week 11 bye, and the veteran signal-caller should have Mike Evans (IR, hamstring) at his disposal when Tampa Bay returns to action against the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 24.

Mayfield (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against San Francisco, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mayfield was held out of practice earlier in the week before returning Friday. Bucs RB Bucky Irving (toe) and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) also avoided injury designations, while WR Mike Evans (hamstring) has been ruled out, and WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

Mayfield (toe) returned to practice Friday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Held out of practice the previous two days, Mayfield nonetheless is expected to start Sunday against the 49ers. It remains to be seen if the Buccaneers give him a game designation on their final injury report Friday afternoon.

Mayfield (toe) won't participate in Thursday's practice, but he's still expected to start in Sunday's game against the 49ers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield was one of five Buccaneers held out of practice Wednesday, two days after he played all 52 of the team's offensive snaps in a 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs. The quarterback didn't appear to be bothered by an injury during the contest, but a toe issue will end up keeping him off the practice field for the second day in a row. Though the Buccaneers haven't suggested that the injury will prevent Mayfield from playing Sunday, he may end up carrying a designation into the weekend if he sits out or is a limited participant in Friday's practice.

Mayfield didn't practice Wednesday due to a toe injury.

Mayfield was able to force overtime Monday at Kansas City but then never got a chance to move the ball in the extra period in an eventual 30-24 loss. Overall, he completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions without the services of his top three wide receivers. Mayfield himself is tending to a health concern now, so his status will be monitored as the week continues to see if he may be in danger of sitting out Sunday against the 49ers.

Mayfield completed 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed four times for 20 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.

Playing with a preseason-like receiver corps that was missing Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (IR, ankle) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring), Mayfield put together an admirable performance and came within striking distance of a victory on the road against the defending champions. The 2018 first overall pick battled throughout the night while facing a Chiefs defense that consistently forced short passes, leading to Mayfield's lowest passing yardage total since Week 5 and snapping his three-game streak of 300-yard performances. Mayfield's pair of touchdown tosses went to Cade Otton (11 yards) and Ryan Miller (one yard), the latter coming with 27 seconds remaining to erase a 24-17 deficit. The veteran signal-caller did extend his streak of multiple touchdown passes to six games, but he draws another unenviable matchup against the 49ers at home in Week 10.

Mayfield completed 37 of 50 passes for 330 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing three times for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-26 loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Mayfield didn't allow the fact he was working without top receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (IR-knee) faze him, as he finished with his third straight 300-yard performance and third-highest total of campaign as well. Mayfield also extended his streak of games with at least three touchdown passes to four contests, connecting with Cade Otton (five, four yards) and Rachaad White (18 yards) for his trio of scoring tosses Sunday. Mayfield isn't expected to get Evans back until Week 12, so he'll be fighting quite the uphill battle in a Week 9 road matchup against the Chiefs on Monday night, Nov. 4.

Mayfield completed 31 of 45 passes for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and added five rushes for 22 yards in the Buccaneers' 41-31 loss to the Ravens on Monday night. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.

Fantasy managers certainly won't take exception with Mayfield's final numbers, but they were in large part a byproduct of a game script that saw the Buccaneers trailing by 24 entering the fourth quarter thanks to 34 unanswered points by Baltimore. Mayfield also lost Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in the first half shortly after connecting with him on a 25-yard scoring strike, making the quarterback's final yardage tally, his highest of the season, all the more noteworthy. Mayfield has now eclipsed 300 yards on three occasions overall in the first seven games, and by adding scoring tosses of 11 and 23 yards to Rachaad White in the fourth quarter, the veteran signal-caller now has at least three touchdown passes in three consecutive games. Mayfield and his teammates don't have time to dwell on the ugly home loss for long, however, as a key Week NFC South home clash against the Falcons awaits this coming Sunday.

Mayfield completed 24 of 36 passes for 325 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in the Buccaneers' 51-27 win over the Saints on Sunday. He also rushed three times for 29 yards.

Mayfield authored his third straight multi-touchdown tally while putting together his second 300-yard effort of the campaign as well. The veteran signal-caller also matched his season high in touchdown passes, connecting with Chris Godwin (four, 55 yards), Sean Tucker (36 yards) and Cade Otton (eight yards) for his quartet of scoring tosses. Mayfield did get shaken up at the end of a late third-quarter drive, but because the Buccaneers punted on the next play, he never missed a play and led a touchdown drive on the next possession. Mayfield's three interceptions were his most in a game during his season-plus Tampa Bay tenure, but he'll still head into a tough Week 7 home matchup against the Ravens on Monday night, Oct. 21 with plenty of momentum.

Mayfield completed 19 of 24 passes for 180 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while adding six rushes for 42 yards in the Buccaneers' 36-30 overtime loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Mayfield put together a crisp, mistake-free performance, and after completing touchdown passes of two and 23 yards to Mike Evans and a four-yard scoring toss to Sterling Shepard in the first half, he appeared to have a good chance of leading the Buccaneers to another victory. However, Mayfield could only help his team muster a pair of field goals over the last two quarters, with Tampa Bay's other three possessions during that span ending in a pair of punts and a Bucky Irving fumble. Despite the disappointing team outcome, Mayfield delivered for fantasy managers once again with his third multi-touchdown effort of the season, and he'll take a stellar 11:2 TD:INT into a Week 6 road divisional matchup against the Saints on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Mayfield completed 30 of 47 passes for 347 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed four times for 10 yards and another score in the Buccaneers' 33-16 win over the Eagles on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Mayfield's numbers tell the tale of yet another highly efficient afternoon for the veteran in coordinator Liam Coen's offense, and the 2018 first overall pick was especially surgical during a first half when the Buccaneers racked up 24 first-half points. Mayfield connected with eight different targets overall on the afternoon, hitting Mike Evans and Trey Palmer (concussion) for first-quarter touchdown passes of two and 15 yards, respectively. Mayfield then added his own one-yard scoring rush in the second quarter, and his trio of trips to the end zone Sunday give him 10 total touchdowns through four games. Mayfield won't have to wait long to add to that tally, as the Buccaneers face off with the Falcons in a Week 5 Thursday night divisional battle.

Mayfield completed 25 of 33 passes for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Buccaneers' 26-7 loss to the Broncos on Sunday.

Mayfield's final line, which included an average of 4.9 yards per attempt, underscores how surprisingly challenging an afternoon it was for him and his offensive teammates against an aggressive Broncos defense. Mayfield took a whopping seven sacks for a total loss of 31 yards in the defeat, and he had constant trouble establishing any sort of rhythm thanks to the constant pressure. The 2018 first overall pick didn't complete a pass longer than 13 yards, leaving his five-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin late in the second quarter as the only highlight of his afternoon. Mayfield has now been held under 200 yards passing in consecutive games, an unfavorable trend he'll look to reverse in a tough Week 4 visit from the Eagles next Sunday.

Mayfield completed 12 of 19 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Lions. He also rushed five times for 34 yards and a touchdown.

Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin for a 41-yard touchdown to put the Buccaneers up by seven in the second quarter, but he threw an interception on his final pass of the first half. The first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft showed off his underrated mobility with consecutive 11-yard runs in the third quarter, the latter of which culminated in a go-ahead touchdown. Despite Mayfield's modest passing numbers and the inability of Tampa Bay's offensive line to contain Aidan Hutchinson, who sacked Mayfield three times in the first quarter en route to 4.5 sacks overall, Mayfield did enough to lead his team to victory. The Buccaneers are 2-0 heading into a Week 3 home game against the Broncos.

Mayfield completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 21 yards on three attempts in Sunday's 37-20 win over the Commanders.

Mayfield was nearly flawless in the Buccaneers 2024 home opener, missing just six pass attempts and committing no turnovers in a comfortable win. The 2018 first-overall pick looked the part in his second season starting for Tampa Bay, feeding top wideouts Mike Evans (5/61/2) and Chris Godwin (8/83/1) the football early and often. Mayfield looks like a great value pick after being drafted in the mid to late rounds in fantasy drafts. Now we will witness how this offense performs on the road against a tough Detroit defense next Sunday.

Mayfield completed all three of his pass attempts for 54 yards in Friday's 24-14 preseason win over the Dolphins.

Mayfield was in midseason form for his only drive of the preseason. He notched consecutive completions of nine yards to Chris Godwin, 17 yards to Rachaad White and 28 yards to Jalen McMillan before White ran in a four-yard touchdown to cap the first-team offense's brief stint in the game. Mayfield's coming off a successful first season in Tampa Bay, as he posted his first 4,000-yard passing campaign in the regular season and won a playoff game. The 29-year-old quarterback looks ready to pick up where he left off when the Buccaneers kick off the regular season Sept. 8 against the Commanders.

Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that Mayfield and other healthy starters will take the field for Friday's preseason finale against the Dolphins, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Mayfield said he doesn't expect to play much Friday, so though Bowles hasn't officially revealed how many series Tampa Bay's starters will play, it seems like it could only be a handful. The veteran signal-caller hasn't yet been called up for preseason action, so Friday's exhibition contest will represent a valuable chance to freshen up his chemistry with WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, plus RB Rachaad White and TE Cade Otton.

Mayfield will not suit up for Saturday's game against the Jaguars, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Buccaneers will once again hold the majority of starters out of Saturday's second exhibition contest, as the team did last week versus the Bengals. Mayfield's final chance to log any preseason reps will come Friday, Aug. 23, at home against the Dolphins.

Mayfield isn't scheduled to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Bengals, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Kyle Trask will be Tampa's starting quarterback Saturday evening. It's probably safe to assume Mayfield's favorite pass catchers will also be held out, namely WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwins, TE Cade Otton and RB Rachaad White. However, WR Jalen McMillan seemingly will get snaps despite projecting for the No. 3 receiver role, as Bowles said "all the rookies" will play.

Mayfield made significant progress in picking up the intricacies of new coordinator Liam Coen's offense throughout the offseason, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports. "There's a lot fewer mistakes and 'M.E.'s," said head coach Todd Bowles. "He has a lot more audibles on his plate than he did in the past and he's getting them down very [well]."

Bowles' comments came in the midst of the mandatory minicamp the Buccaneers held earlier in June, following a particularly productive penultimate practice of the offseason in which Mayfield spread the ball around effectively. Mayfield has had plenty of opportunity to progressively get a handle on the offensive system, as he was also part of 10 voluntary OTA practices before minicamp. While there figures to be some additional growing pains with the offense, there will be multiple weeks of training camp and preseason games for Mayfield and a top quartet of incumbent pass catchers in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer and Cade Otton to continue building chemistry within it.

Mayfield agreed to terms on a three-year, $100 million deal with the Buccaneers on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield will remain with Tampa Bay as its presumptive starting quarterback for at least the next two years. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, The 28-year-old's new deal includes $50 million guaranteed -- all of which is slated to be paid out over the next two seasons. This contract also includes $5 million per year in incentives, increasing its max value to $115 million. Mayfield originally signed with the squad in May of 2023 on a flier one-year deal worth $8.5 million. He went on to notch career highs in both passing yards (4,044) and passing touchdowns (28) while tossing just 10 interceptions across 17 regular-season starts, and he led the team to a NFC South Division championship and an apperance in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. Star wideout Mike Evans also re-signed on a two-year, $52 million contract with Tampa Bay this offseason while standout slot receiver Chris Godwin also still has two years remaining on his current contract with the team. The retention of these two core receivers sho

Mayfield is on track to become an unrestricted free agent March 13, with the Buccaneers having placed the franchise tag on Antoine Winfield on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield and Tampa Bay still have time to negotiate on an extension before free agency, but with Winfield having received the franchise tag and Mike Evans having been re-signed on a two-year, $52 million contract, the veteran quarterback is now the team's biggest looming question. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is coming off a solid 2023 campaign in which he threw for a career-high 4,044 yards with a solid 28:10 TD, assisting the Buccaneers in securing a third-straight NFC South title plus an NFC Divisional Round cameo. It's been reported that Mayfield desires to remain in Tampa Bay, so he could be willing to agree to a team-friendly contract, but there are enough questions at quarterback around the NFL that the soon-to-be 29-year-old should be legitimately pursued by other teams if allowed to hit the open market.

Buccaneers' GM Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield's agent, Tom Mills, during the NFL scouting combine next week, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Stroud notes that while no deal for the QB to remain with Tampa Bay is imminent, the team and Mayfield have had some preliminary talks about a potential new contract. In his first season with the Bucs, Mayfield recorded a career-high 4,044 passing yards to go along with a 28:10 TD ratio en route to leading the franchise to a third straight NFC South title. The report adds that Mayfield -- who the Browns made the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- would prefer to stay put after having split the 2022 campaign with the Panthers and Rams -- but if the veteran signal-caller hits the free agent market next month, the Buccaneers could have some competition for the 28-year-old's services.

New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said Tuesday that Mayfield is one of the reasons he chose the job in Tampa Bay, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Coen said his confidence in Mayfield re-signing is "higher than I probably need [it] to be" but also clarified that it's "probably more 'want' than 'know'." It sounds like the two are on the same page, at least to some extent, as Mayfield said Friday that he expected contract talks to pick up once the Bucs finalized a deal with Coen, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The former Rams and Kentucky offensive coordinator worked with Mayfield at the end of the 2022 season in Los Angeles, before returning to the college ranks in 2023 (at Kentucky) to resume calling plays. Coen will get his first shot as an NFL playcaller in 2024, and there's a good chance he'll be working with Mayfield -- a candidate for the franchise tag and/or a long-term contract this spring. WR Mike Evans is also scheduled for unrestricted free agency, with his future having a significant impact on Mayfield's fantasy value after the two connected 79 times for 1,255 yards and 13 TDs in 2023.

Mayfield completed 26 of 41 passes for 349 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and added two rushes for 15 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-23 divisional-round loss to the Lions on Sunday.

Mayfield authored yet another noteworthy performance, eclipsing the 300-yard mark for the second time in as many postseason games and fourth time in the last six contests overall. However, the Buccaneers ultimately came up short in large part because of Mayfield's interception on a pass intended for Cade Otton with 1:35 remaining on the second play of what was set to be Tampa Bay's potential game-tying drive. Mayfield had helped put his team in that position on the previous possession, when he spearheaded a nine-play, 75-yard march that he capped with his third touchdown toss of the day, a 16-yard laser to Mike Evans. That scoring throw had been preceded by two- and 12-yard connections with Otton and Rachaad White, respectively, in what was a back-and-forth affair all afternoon. Despite the disappointing end to a better-than-expected season, Michael Baca of NFL.com reports there is mutual interest between player and team for Mayfield to return in 2024 after he threw for 4,044 yards with a 28:10 TD:INT and 163

Mayfield completed 22 of 36 passes for 337 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and added two rushes for 16 yards in the Buccaneers' 32-9 wild-card win over the Eagles on Monday night.

Mayfield had been struggling with rib and ankle injuries coming in, but neither appeared to inhibit him at any point during his latest impressive showing. The resurgent veteran averaged 9.4 yards per attempt after generating a season-low 4.3 figure in Week 18 against the Panthers, and he impressively distributed the ball to nine different targets overall. Mayfield also remained turnover-free and posted his fifth multi-touchdown tally in the last six games by connecting with David Moore (44 yards), Trey Palmer (56 yards) and Chris Godwin (23 yards) for his three scores. Mayfield's final yardage figure was propped up by great run-after-catch work on the part of both Moore and Palmer, but the veteran signal-caller carries plenty of momentum heading into what could be a high-scoring affair against the Lions in a road divisional-round clash Sunday afternoon.

Mayfield (ankle/ribs) is listed as active for Monday's wild-card game versus the Eagles.

Mayfield was visibly bothered by injury during the Buccaneers' Week 18 win at Carolina, but he played all 65 offensive snaps in that contest. He then opened prep for Tampa Bay's postseason opener with a DNP on last Thursday's practice estimate due to ankle and rib issues and followed it up with limited sessions Friday and Saturday to put himself in a position to suit up. With his status confirmed for Monday, Mayfield will be taking on a Philadelphia defense that conceded the second-most touchdown passes (35) to opposing quarterbacks in 17 regular-season games.

Mayfield (ankle/ribs) is slated to play in Monday's wild-card game against the Eagles, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

In the wake of limping around the Buccaneers' Week 18 win at Carolina, Mayfield managed a pair of limited practices Friday and Saturday due to ankle and rib injuries before being listed as questionable for the team's playoff opener. No matter, he appears as if he'll be available to direct Tampa Bay's offense Monday, which will be clarified approximately 90 minutes before an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Mayfield (ankle/ribs) is listed as questionable for Monday's wild-card game against the Eagles.

Mayfield fought through injury to lead the Buccaneers to a 9-0 win at Carolina in Week 18, handling all 65 offense snaps in the process. He then was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's practice estimate due to ankle and rib issues, which capped his reps both Friday and Saturday. Mayfield's status for Tampa Bay's playoff opener now won't be confirmed until about 90 minutes before Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Mayfield (ankle/ribs) was limited at Friday's practice.

Mayfield clearly was banged up but continued to play through the pain during this past Sunday's 9-0 win at Carolina, logging all 65 snaps on offense in the process. Upon the Buccaneers posting their first practice report of the week Thursday, he was listed as a non-participant due to ankle and rib injuries. One day later, though, Mayfield mixed back into some drills, seemingly putting him on a path to be available in the wild-card round. Saturday's injury report will reveal whether or not he heads into Monday's game versus the Eagles with a designation or cleared to suit up.

Mayfield missed Thursday's walkthrough due to ankle and rib injuries.

Mayfield was seen limping around for much of this past Sunday's win at Carolina, a contest in which he completed 20 of 32 passes for just 137 yards. He didn't toss a touchdown or commit a turnover, though, in the 9-0 win. Now that Mayfield's health concerns are known, his status will be one to monitor ahead of Monday's wild-card game against the Eagles to make sure he's available to direct the Buccaneers offense.

Mayfield completed 20 of 32 passes for 137 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed five times for seven yards in the Buccaneers' 9-0 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Mayfield averaged only 4.3 yards per attempt while carrying out a game plan that was unsurprisingly conservative against an opponent seemingly incapable of pressing the Buccaneers offensively. The veteran signal-caller gutted out what appeared to be a lower-body injury that occurred on a first-half sack, leading the Buccaneers to the NFC South title while eclipsing the 4,000-yard mark for the first time in his career (4,044). Mayfield and the Buccaneers will now await confirmation of their opponent for a home NFC Wild Card Game next weekend.

Mayfield (ribs) is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Coach Todd Bowles confirmed Friday that Mayfield would be available to start in the final regular-season matchup, though his active status serves as confirmation. The Buccaneers need to beat Carolina to win the NFC South title and clinch a playoff berth. Mayfield enters the matchup having thrown for multiple touchdowns in each of his last four games.

Mayfield (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers, though head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Friday that the quarterback will be available to start in Week 18, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield dealt with some rib soreness in the aftermath of this past Sunday's loss to the Saints, but the signal-caller seemed to make gradual progress as the week went along. After sitting out the Buccaneers' first Week 18 practice Wednesday, he returned to the field as a limited participant Thursday, then took every rep Friday. Barring any unexpected setbacks leading up to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Mayfield should be cleared to make his 17th start of the season as the Buccaneers look to clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Panthers.

Coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Mayfield (ribs) is a "full go" for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Buccaneers never seemed too worried about Mayfield's availability for the crucial game, and he'll now avoid a designation on the final injury report after being listed as a non-participant Wednesday and limited participant Thursday. The team around him should be healthy, with Bowles saying Friday that the team's other banged-up starters also will play. The Bucs take the NFC South with a win over Carolina on Sunday, while a loss would make the winner of Saints-Falcons the division champ.

Mayfield (ribs) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

In the wake of this past Sunday's loss to the Saints, coach Todd Bowles revealed Monday that Mayfield was tending to sore ribs, but he also expected the quarterback to "be fine by Sunday," according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Buccaneers didn't hold practice Wednesday, but if they had, Mayfield wouldn't have mixed into any drills. After returning to the field Thursday, he was described by offensive coordinator Dave Canales as looking "functional" and also "ripped some throws" downfield, per Scott Smith of the team's official site. In the end, Mayfield appears as if he'll be available for Sunday's contest at Carolina, but his status will continue to be monitored to ensure he's out there this weekend.

Mayfield (ribs) would not have participated if the Buccaneers held practice Wednesday, according to coach Todd Bowles, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Tampa Bay has a walk-through scheduled Wednesday, and Mayfield will likely be listed as a non-participant when the Buccaneers release their estimated injury report. Bowles added that Kyle Trask will likely get more reps in practice Thursday in anticipation of a possible absence from Mayfield on Sunday against the Panthers. The Buccaneers would clinch the NFC South crown with a win in Carolina, so Mayfield will do all he can to be available by Sunday, but Bowles seemed less sure about his availability than he did when asked about Mayfield's injury Monday.

Mayfield is feeling soreness in his ribs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield made it through Sunday's game, but he apparently exited it less than 100 percent. Head coach Todd Bowles noted that Mayfield should be fine for Tampa Bay's Week 18 matchup with Carolina, and that will be determined by practice reports in the coming days.

Mayfield completed 22 of 33 passes for 309 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed once for minus-1 yard in the Buccaneers' 23-13 loss to the Saints on Sunday.

Mayfield did manage to clear the 300-yard mark for the second time in the last three games and threw for multiple touchdowns for the fourth consecutive contest as well, but those were largely empty numbers. The Buccaneers struggled on offense for most of the day until late, when Mayfield connected with Trey Palmer on a 22-yard touchdown pass just before the midway point of the fourth quarter. Mayfield also managed to hit Chris Godwin for a 47-yard scoring strike with 1:37 remaining, but the Saints recovered the ensuing onside kick. The veteran signal-caller will look to rebound in Week 18 against the Panthers that sets up as a win-and-in scenario for Tampa Bay.

Mayfield completed 26 of 35 passes for 283 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buccaneer's 30-12 win over the Jaguars on Sunday. He also rushed five times for five yards.

Mayfield's late-season continued in remarkable fashion Sunday, with the Comeback of the Player candidate turning in yet another highly efficient and mistake-free performance. The 2018 first overall pick hit Mike Evans for both his touchdown passes and connected with seven different targets overall. Mayfield now has an 8:0 TD:INT over his last three games, and he's just two scoring tosses short of eclipsing the career-best 27 touchdown passes he threw in his rookie 2018 campaign. Mayfield will look to inch the Bucs closer to the NFC South crown when he faces the Saints in a Week 17 home matchup.

Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 34-20 win over the Packers on Sunday. He also rushed twice for minus-2 yards and lost a fumble.

Mayfield's stellar line tells the story of how effective the veteran signal-caller, who's been a pleasant surprise as Tom Brady's successor this season, was throughout the afternoon against a talented Packers secondary. Mayfield averaged a whopping 13.6 yards per attempt despite taking five sacks, and he connected with seven different pass catches overall. However, he demonstrated outstanding chemistry with Chris Godwin in particular, with the veteran receiver accounting for 10 of Mayfield's completions, 155 of his receiving yards and 12 of his pass attempts. Mayfield hit Mike Evans (19 yards), Rachaad White (26 yards), Ko Kieft (two yars) and David Moore (52 yards) for his quartet of scoring tosses, and he's now thrown for multiple touchdowns in six of his last eight contests. Mayfield next sets his sights on the Jaguars' inconsistent pass defense in a Week 16 home matchup on Christmas Eve.

Mayfield completed 14 of 29 passes for 144 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and added three rushing yards and another score on three carries in the Buccaneers' 29-25 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

The veteran signal-caller salvaged an otherwise particularly quiet day with his trio of touchdowns, with the final one, an 11-yard connection with Cade Otton with 31 seconds remaining, proving to be the difference in the contest. Mayfield had a rare day of missed connections with top target Mike Evans, with the star receiver converting only one of his six targets into catches. Nevertheless, Mayfield worked around the struggles with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Rachaad White and a one-yard scoring run on the first play of the second quarter. Mayfield now has multiple touchdown passes in five of the last seven games heading into a Week 15 road battle versus the Packers.

Mayfield completed 14 of 29 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 21-18 win over the Panthers.

It wasn't a productive day for the 28-year-old quarterback, but he did connect with Mike Evans for the longest TD of the receiver's career, a 75-yard catch and run in the third quarter that put Tampa Bay in the lead for good. Mayfield's fantasy ceiling remains low -- he has just one 300-game this season, and only one with more than two passing touchdowns -- but given the state of the QB landscape in 2023, his stability has some value heading into a Week 14 matchup with the Falcons that could have a big impact on the NFC South title race.

Mayfield (ankle) was a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough.

Mayfield injured his ankle near the end of the Buccaneers' opening possession this past Sunday at Indianapolis, missing two snaps in the process. He was able to play with the ankle heavily taped thereafter on his way to 199 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 20-for-30 passing, three carries for 14 yards and two fumbles (one lost). On Monday, an MRI on Mayfield's ankle was returned negative, and as of Wednesday, coach Todd Bowles told Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site that the quarterback felt much better and was in line to suit up Sunday against the Panthers. With a full listing on the team's first Week 13 practice report, Mayfield appears on pace to do exactly that, but it wouldn't surprise if he endures some on-field restrictions before week's end to manage the issue.

The Buccaneers are optimistic that Mayfield (ankle) will be able to suit up versus the Panthers on Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Mayfield managed to gut out his ankle injury during Tampa Bay's loss to the Colts in Week 12, so though his practice reps may be limited leading into Sunday's home matchup against Carolina, there's reason to be optimistic about his chances of playing. He underwent an MRI on Monday, with negative results confirming he avoided any ligament damage. Mayfield has thrown exactly two passing touchdowns in four of his last five appearances, making him a possible streaming option for fantasy purposes against the Panthers' lackluster secondary.

Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that MRI results on Mayfield's ankle came back negative, but that the quarterback is feeling sore after Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Mayfield injured his ankle while converting a quarterback sneak on Tampa Bay's opening drive, causing Kyle Trask to fill in for two plays. He ultimately completed 20 of 30 passes for 199 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, plus three carries for 14 yards. Mayfield also fumbled twice, with Indianapolis recovering one. It's encouraging that the veteran quarterback's MRI showed no ligament damage, but it will still be worth monitoring Mayfield's practice status as he works to get healthy in time to face the Panthers in Week 13.

Mayfield completed 20 of 30 passes for 199 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Buccaneers' 27-20 loss to the Colts on Sunday. He also rushed three times for 14 yards and committed two fumbles, losing one.

Mayfield suffered an ankle injury while nearly capping the Buccaneers' seven-minute-plus opening drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak, and he ended up sitting out the next two plays while momentary fill-in Kyle Trask nearly tossed a touchdown to Chris Godwin. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports Mayfield's ankle was heavily taped upon his return for Tampa Bay's next possession, which ended with an interception by Ronnie Harrison. Mayfield went on to author his fourth two-touchdown effort in his last five contests with a pair of scoring tosses to Mike Evans, but he couldn't prevent his team's third straight loss. The veteran signal-caller will look to get Tampa Bay back in the win column in a favorable home matchup versus the Panthers in Week 13.

Mayfield completed 29 of 45 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown with one interception in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the 49ers.

He also gained five rushing yards on three carries, and lost a fumble. Mayfield did toss a one-yard TD to Mike Evans late in the second quarter, but otherwise he struggled to get much going against an aggressive San Francisco defense that sacked him four times. The 28-year-old QB had posted a 6:1 TD:INT over his prior three games while facing less daunting opposition, and he'll look to rebound in Week 12 against a Colts squad coming out of its bye having allowed just 10 passing touchdowns in 10 games.

Mayfield (thumb) wasn't listed on the Buccaneers' first Week 11 injury report Wednesday.

Mayfield suffered a right thumb injury during the tail end of this past Sunday's win against the Titans. On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Bucs' training staff checked out the appendage and ruled that Mayfield wouldn't miss any practice reps this week. Just two days later, that has come to pass, meaning Mayfield is good to go for a Week 11 road matchup with the 49ers, whose defense ranks 15th against the pass (221.4 yards per game).

Mayfield (thumb) isn't expected to miss any practice time and is fully on track for Sunday's road matchup against the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield injured his thumb during the fourth quarter of Tampa Bay's win over the Titans in Week 10, but the coaching staff examined him after the game and found no significant issues. The 2018 first-round pick will need to be at full strength versus San Francisco, a defense that just held Trevor Lawrence to under 200 yards with a 2:0 TD:INT, and Travis Etienne to just 44 yards from scrimmage. Mayfield has built up some momentum of his own, though, with six touchdowns and just one interception in his last three appearances.

Mayfield said his right thumb ""feels good" after it hit an opposing player's helmet in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 20-6 win over the Titans, Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield appeared to injury his thumb in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, but the quarterback downplayed the severity of the issue. Still, Knight notes that the Buccaneers called seven straight run plays after Mayfield sustained the injury, followed by the quarterback's last pass of the day -- an incompletion -- being called with roughly seven minutes remaining in the contest. Mayfield has looked comfortable in Tampa Bay's offensive scheme recently, and he's on a three-game multi-TD streak, so it will be worth monitoring whether he's listed on Wednesday's injury report. The Buccaneers will face San Francisco on the road Week 11.

Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Buccaneers' 20-6 win over the Titans on Sunday. He also rushed three times for 12 yards. He also committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay.

Mayfield averaged a robust 9.6 yards per attempt and worked around some sacks to deliver another solid fantasy effort. The 2018 first overall pick found Mike Evans and Rachaad White for his two scoring tosses, extending his multi-touchdown streak to three games in the process. Mayfield also exceeded the 270-yard mark for the third time on the campaign, and although he continues to operate with a relatively narrow target pool, he's been a very good fit for coordinator Dave Canales' offense thus far. Mayfield's next assignment will be a stiff test, however, as the Buccaneers travel west to tangle with the 49ers in a Week 11 showdown.

Mayfield completed 21 of 30 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed four times for four yards in the Buccaneers' 39-37 loss to the Texans on Sunday.

Mayfield averaged an impressive 8.8 yards per attempt and remained free of interceptions for the fourth time this season while throwing a pair of touchdown passes for the second straight game. The 2018 first overall pick connected with tight end Cade Otton for both of his scoring tosses, which came from three and 14 yards out. Mayfield also narrowly missed a third touchdown on a perfectly thrown 53-yard pass early in the third quarter to Mike Evans on which the receiver was ultimately determined to be down at the one-yard line on instant replay. Mayfield appeared to have led the Bucs to victory with his second touchdown to Otton with 46 seconds remaining before C.J. Stroud capped off a record-setting day with his own late scoring march for the Texans. Mayfield and his teammates will aim to atone for the disappointing loss in a Week 10 home matchup against the Titans.

Mayfield (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.

Mayfield told Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site on Wednesday that he initially banged up his left knee Week 4 at New Orleans and aggravated the injury Week 7 against the Falcons. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Mayfield is dealing with a contusion, but the quarterback relayed that it's feeling better by the day, and he intends to play through it. Mayfield's activity level to begin Week 9 prep indicates that he's good to go for Sunday's visit to the Texans.

Mayfield has been tending to a left knee contusion, but he plans to play through the injury in the Buccaneers' next game Nov. 5 versus the Texans in Week 9, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

The knee issue has presented some discomfort for Mayfield, but it didn't stop him from starting on a short week and completing 25 of 42 pass attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 yards on three carries this past Thursday in the Buccaneers' 24-18 loss to the Bills. The Buccaneers still elected to send Mayfield in for an MRI, but with those tests revealing nothing concerning, the veteran signal-caller doesn't appear in danger of missing any time. With 10 days between their Week 8 and Week 9 game, the Buccaneers are hopeful the mini-bye week will allow Mayfield to heal up a bit and head into the matchup with Houston in better condition than he had been against the Bills.

Mayfield completed 25 of 42 passes for 237 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding three rushes for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-18 loss to the Bills on Thursday night. He also committed a fumble but recovered it and threw a two-point conversion pass.

Mayfield's numbers were certainly acceptable from a fantasy perspective, with the veteran signal-caller authoring his third multi-touchdown effort of the campaign. Mayfield hit his top duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans for three- and 24-yard scoring tosses in the second and third quarters, respectively, but he couldn't get the Buccaneers past their own 45-yard line on the final possession of the contest. Despite Tampa Bay suffering its third straight loss Thursday, Mayfield has put together a serviceable body of work through the first seven games on his way to 1,600 passing yards and an impressive 10:4 TD:INT. He'll next take aim at the Texans in a Week 9 road matchup on Sunday, Nov. 5.

Mayfield (knee) is active for Thursday's game at Buffalo, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Mayfield's status for Week 8 was up in the air after following a DNP/LP/FP practice regimen this week due to a knee issue. Having said that, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported earlier Thursday that Mayfield was slated to suit up, and indeed that has come to pass. Mayfield will have a tough task on his hands against a Bills defense that has given up the fifth-fewest points per game (16.9) this season.

Mayfield (knee) is expected to suit up for Thursday's game at Buffalo, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield is officially listed as questionable for Thursday Night Football, but the expectation is that he will take the field and play through his knee injury after being listed as a full participant on Wednesday's injury report. Chris Godwin (neck) is also expected to play versus the Bills. Official word on Mayfield's status will come roughly 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Mayfield (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game in Buffalo, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

After opening Week 8 prep with an absence due to a knee injury, Mayfield subsequently has logged a limited walkthrough Tuesday and full practice Wednesday. Still, like with wide receiver Chris Godwin (neck), Mayfield's status for game day remains up in the air. Expect Mayfield's availability to be clarified about 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Mayfield (knee) was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's practice report.

Like wide receiver Chris Godwin (neck), Mayfield was able to move from a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report to having a cap on his reps one day later. Mayfield thus will have one more chance to prove the health of his knee before the Buccaneers determine whether or not he holds a designation ahead of Thursday's game at Buffalo.

Mayfield was listed as a non-participant on the Buccaneers' first Week 8 practice report due to a knee injury Monday.

Mayfield has fared modestly in his first campaign in Tampa Bay, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,363 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions while also racking up 99 more yards on the ground through six games. With a short week to prepare for Thursday's contest at Buffalo, he'll have two more opportunities to handle some on-field work before the Buccaneers potentially give him a designation for Week 8 action.

Mayfield completed 27 of 42 passes for 275 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Falcons. He added three rushes for 32 yards.

Mayfield bounced back from his worst performance of the season against Detroit in Week 6, though he still had struggles with efficiency and mistakes. The highlight of his game came early on a 40-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, accounting for Mayfield's only score as well as his longest completion. Otherwise, the team's explosive plays were primarily the product of runs after the catch. The primary drawback to Mayfield's performance was an interception that came late in the fourth quarter on a drive that could have given the Buccaneers the lead. Overall, he has been a decent game manager, but he's thrown for multiple touchdowns twice in six starts while topping 300 passing yards just once.

Mayfield (hand) wasn't listed on the Buccaneers' first Week 7 injury report Wednesday.

Mayfield's left hand was bloodied this past Sunday when it became pinned between his chest and the helmet of a Lions defender. On Monday, coach Todd Bowles told Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site that Mayfield was diagnosed with a contusion. When asked how his hand felt Wednesday, Mayfield himself told Brianna Dix of the team's official site, "Golden." With no practice limitations placed on him to kick off Week 7 prep, Mayfield indeed is good to go ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield was diagnosed with a left (non-throwing) hand contusion following Sunday's loss to the Lions, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

X-rays were negative on Mayfield's hand. He appeared to injure it on the final drive when his hand was pinned between his chest and a Lions defender's helmet following a throw. Mayfield might miss some practice reps this week but should otherwise be fine for Week 7 against the Falcons next Sunday.

Mayfield completed 19 of 37 passes for 206 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Lions.

Mayfield failed to throw a touchdown for the first time as a Buccaneer, and he suffered from an overall poor performance during which he averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. He still displayed some ability to make big plays, tallying three completions of over 20 yards -- two of which went to Trey Palmer. Mayfield has performed adequately as a game manager in relatively easy matchups, but he's now struggled against both Philadelphia and Detroit.

Mayfield completed 25 of 32 passes for 246 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while adding eight rushes for 31 yards in the Buccaneers' 26-9 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Mayfield turned in an admirable bounce-back effort in a tough environment against a quality defense after having been mostly stymied by the Eagles at home on Monday night in Week 4. The veteran helped turn the game in Tampa Bay's favor for good in the second quarter with four- and one-yard touchdown tosses to Cade Otton and Trey Palmer, respectively, and his five-yard scoring throw to Deven Thompkins with 3:44 remaining helped seal the win. It also gave Mayfield his first three-touchdown effort in a Buccaneers uniform, one made all the more impressive by the fact Mike Evans exited the game in the first half with a lower-body injury. Mayfield and the Bucs now head into a Week 5 bye before a showdown against the Lions at home in Week 6.

Mayfield completed 15 of 25 passes for 146 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Buccaneers' 25-11 loss to the Eagles on Monday night. He also rushed once for two yards and committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay.

Mayfield found life much more difficult than during the first two games of his Buccaneers starting tenure, as he was sacked twice and also committed his first turnover of the campaign. The veteran signal-caller found favorite target Mike Evans for his one touchdown pass of the evening, but no other pass catcher surpassed three receptions or 32 yards. Mayfield averaged a meager 5.8 yards per attempt as well, and he'll likely have an uphill battle trying to bounce back in a Week 4 road matchup against the similarly tough Saints defense.

Mayfield completed 26 of 34 passes for 317 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 27-17 win over the Bears. He also rushed six times for 17 yards and recovered a fumble.

As good as he was in a Week 1 upset win over the Vikings, Mayfield put an even better effort together Sunday while posting his first 300-yard effort since Week 5 of the 2021 season. The 2018 first overall pick played like it during his second straight turnover-free performance to open the season and once again enjoyed excellent chemistry with Mike Evans, with whom he connected on six occasions for 171 yards and a 32-yard touchdown. Mayfield connected with seven different targets overall and appears to be building an increasing comfort level in the offense, but he'll have an unenviable challenge in the form of a Week 3 home matchup against the Eagles on Monday night, Sept. 25.

Mayfield completed 21 of 34 passes for 173 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and added eight carries for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 20-17 win over the Vikings on Sunday.

Officially beginning his tenure as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback, Mayfield displayed impressive poise during a mistake-free performance in a tough road environment. The 2018 first overall pick unsurprisingly leaned on Mike Evans and Chris Godwin the most, with 11 of his completions, 117 yards and one of his touchdowns ending up in the hands of the duo. Mayfield connected with seven different targets overall, and in addition to his impressive 28-yard scoring toss to Evans just before halftime, he also hit rookie Trey Palmer for a seven-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. With a solid debut under his belt, Mayfield will look to build on it in his Week 2 home debut against the Bears.

Mayfield completed each of his six pass attempts for 43 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore.

Mayfield and the first-team offense dispatched of Baltimore's second-string offense, with Chris Godwin catching four passes for 30 yards and a TD before he and Mayfield were pulled from the game. Those two and Mike Evans will form the core of Tampa's passing attack heading into a Week 1 matchup at Minnesota.

Coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield will start Tampa Bay's preseason finale against the Ravens on Saturday and play the first half, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Mayfield was freshly named the Bucs' Week 1 starter by Bowles on Tuesday, and after not playing in the second preseason contest, Mayfield will get a tune-up for the regular season versus Baltimore. Kyle Trask will play the second half with the second-team offense.

Coach Todd Bowles officially named Mayfield the Buccaneers' starting quarterback for Week 1 on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield winning Tampa Bay's quarterback competition was foreshadowed when he sat out the team's preseason win over the Jets on Saturday despite the absence of John Wolford (neck). The 2018 No. 1 overall pick will get a chance to reignite his career as a starter with wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as his clear top targets on offense, beginning with Sept. 10's regular-season opener against the Vikings. Now that the Buccaneers' quarterback battle is at an end, it remains to be seen whether the team will opt for Mayfield and the starters to get some reps in during Saturday's preseason finale against the Ravens, or have them get some rest.

Mayfield did not play in the Buccaneers' 13-6 preseason win over the Jets on Saturday night despite John Wolford suffering a neck injury that forced his exit from the contest.

Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports head coach Todd Bowles had initially planned to have Mayfield play Saturday night, but the staff had decided they wanted to see Kyle Trask handle a two-minute scenario at the end of the half. The plan was for Wolford to handle the entire second half once Trask was done at halftime, yet his late third-quarter exit led to Trask re-entering the game since he was already warmed up. Laine separately reports Mayfield and Trask will both play in next Saturday night's preseason finale against the Ravens, which will presumptively serve as the final chapter in their job battle.

Mayfield completed eight of nine pass attempts for 63 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason loss to the Steelers.

Mayfield got to start in his new club's first preseason game, but head coach Todd Bowles was clear that he hadn't won the starting job over Kyle Trask, as the two are scheduled to switch roles in Tampa Bay's next game against the Jets on Aug. 19. Both signal-callers got to run four offensive drives Friday, with Mayfield winning the first round by leading one of his into the end zone, while Trask threw the only interception of the night between the two. The younger Trask figures to provide more fantasy upside based on the unknown element, whereas we have already seen what kind of QB the former first-overall pick has settled into at the journeyman stage of his career. Whichever quarterback wins the gig will also benefit from inheriting one of the better receiver duos in recent years.

Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Mayfield will start Friday's preseason contest against the Steelers, but that Kyle Trask will start versus the Jets on Aug. 19, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mayfield and Trask are listed as co-starters for the QB1 spot on the Buccaneers' first unofficial depth chart, and the team will indeed take a look at both options during the preseason. Mayfield will get the first shot, though Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports that doesn't necessarily mean he's ahead in the quarterback competition. The ultimate factor in determining Tampa Bay's starter for Week 1 could come down to who performs better in preseason action.

On the Buccaneers' initial unofficial depth chart, Mayfield and Kyle Trask are listed together in the QB1 slot.

The listing offers confirmation that the two players are competing for the team's top QB spot ahead of Week 1. With that in mind, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site notes via coach Todd Bowles that whichever of the two signal-callers starts Friday's preseason game against the Steelers, the other one will get the nod in the team's second exhibition game and get an equal amount of playing time.

Mayfield, who's battling Kyle Trask for the starting quarterback job this summer, is focused on maintaining the same mental intensity each day and putting the past behind him, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Mayfield was the first quarterback on the field for Wednesday's camp-opening practice and put in a turnover-free day that also included a touchdown pass to Cade Otton on a nifty play fake, and he followed it up with a couple of impressive throws Thursday to Mike Evans and rookie Rakim Jarrett. The veteran signal-caller's battle with Trask will likely come down to the wire, and in the interim, Mayfield is focusing on what's in front of him each day and drowning out past stumbles such as his uneven stints with the Browns and Panthers. "I don't need anyone on the outside to tell me what I can or can't do," Mayfield said. "I will always have a chip on my shoulder. That is how I approach every day..."

Offensive coordinator Dave Canales said Wednesday the Buccaneers won't rush to name Mayfield or Kyle Trask their starting quarterback, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Though the Buccaneers didn't add any quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft to potentially challenge Mayfield or Trask, the team did bring aboard veteran John Wolford on Tuesday. Canales said the starting role will go to the quarterback who proves they can take "care of the ball" and "push the ball down the field," and while Mayfield certainly looks like the favorite to win out among the Buccaneers' current options, it's possible a competition could still linger late into the preseason. The 28-year-old Mayfield inked a one-year, $8.5 million contract with Tampa Bay back in March and may be facing his last real chance to re-establish himself as a viable NFL starter.

Offensive coordinator Dave Canales said Wednesday the Buccaneers won't rush to name Mayfield of Kyle Trask as the starting quarterback for the 2023 season, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Mayfield and Trask both managed to avoid added competition at the quarterback position during the 2023 NFL Draft, though Tampa Bay did sign John Wolford on Tuesday. Canales said the starting role will go to the quarterback who proves they can take "care of the ball" and "push the ball down the field," and while Mayfield certainly looks like the favorite to win out among the Buccaneers' current options, it's possible a competition could still linger late into the offseason. The 28-year-old Mayfield inked with Tampa Bay on a one-year, $8.5 million contract back in March and may be facing his last real chance at a career bounceback.

Mayfield is signing a one-year contract with the Buccaneers for a maximum value of $8.5 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Initial reports don't specify the base value, guarantees or incentives, but whatever the case it's expected Mayfield will have a chance to compete for the starting job given Tampa's lack of cap space and premium draft picks. The other candidate, as of now, is 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask, who has nine career pass attempts to his name. Mayfield played somewhat better for the Rams late last season after tanking in Carolina during the first half of the year, but there's a large body of evidence suggesting he's no better than a bottom-end starter or high-end backup. The soon-to-be 28-year-old at least will have talented pass catchers in Tampa, unless the Bucs end up moving Chis Godwin or Mike Evans.

The Buccaneers are expected to target Mayfield as a potential starting option when free agency opens March 15, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After a subpar start to his Panthers' tenure, Mayfield was let go and joined the struggling Rams. He burst onto the scene with an epic comeback win over the Raiders on Thursday Night Football, just days after signing a contract, and finished with a 63.6 completion percentage, 850 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions across five appearances with Los Angeles. Mayfield may be able to parlay his solid play into a starting gig in 2023, but he's presumably viewed as a short-term option for teams searching for their quarterback of the future. The Buccaneers currently have only two quarterbacks on their roster, Kyle Trask and Blaine Gabbert, but they figure to add more depth in free agency and through the draft as they attempt to move forward without Tom Brady.

Mayfield completed 13 of 26 passes for 147 yards and one interception in Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to Seattle. He added 16 rushing yards on five attempts.

Mayfield threw for fewer than 150 yards in three of five games with the Rams down the stretch and posted a 10:8 TD:INT in 12 appearances spread between Los Angeles and Carolina. The unrestricted free agent may have to settle for a backup job in 2023 after his underwhelming 2022 campaign.

Mayfield completed 11 of 19 passes for 132 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Rams' 31-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He also rushed three times for eight yards and lost a fumble.

Fresh off a near-perfect Christmas Day showing against the Broncos in Week 16, Mayfield turned in a lackluster showing much more reminiscent of his Week 15 performance against the Packers. The 2018 first overall pick is clearly just a stop-gap measure for the Rams to play out the string with, and he could be in for another tough afternoon in a Week 18 road clash versus an incentivized Seahawks team that boasts a stingy pass defense.

Mayfield completed 24 of 28 pass attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 51-14 win over the Broncos.

Mayfield struggled in his last start and had one of the league's top defenses on tap for Week 16; so of course he twirls one his finest games as a pro Sunday. Sarcasm aside, the former first-overall pick showed a marked improvement in his second official start with the Rams. Teaming up with head coach Sean McVay has revitalized the polarizing quarterback's season, as he appears to have solidified the starting job for the remainder of the year. Mayfield may even regain the trust of fantasy managers if he can continue to show signs of improved play against the Chargers on Sunday.

Mayfield completed 12 of 21 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Rams' 24-12 loss to the Packers on Monday night. He also rushed once for one yard and committed a fumble recovered by Los Angeles.

Mayfield's first official start in a Rams uniform -- John Wolford opened the Week 14 win over the Raiders before quickly exiting after one series -- was very underwhelming compared to the way 2018 first overall pick wrapped up that wild win in his team debut. Mayfield took five sacks and was hit and additional four times by a relentless Packers defense, and he was picked off at his own 33-yard line early in the fourth quarter with Los Angeles already down 12 at the time. Mayfield connected with Tyler Higbee for his one touchdown pass, but the quick rapport he'd flashed with Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson in the latter stages of the comeback victory over the Raiders was mostly non-existent Monday -- the trio combined for just four receptions and 35 yards on nine targets. The next installment of Mayfield's stretch-run audition comes in a Week 16 home showdown against the Broncos on Christmas Day.

Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday that he expects Mayfield to start the team's final four games of the season, Greg Beacham of The Associated Press reports.

Even though he didn't arrive in Los Angeles until late Tuesday after the Rams scooped him off waivers from the Panthers earlier that day, Mayfield was thrust into action just two days later in the team's game against the Raiders. While John Wolford drew the start, Mayfield came on to replace him on the Rams' second possession and took every snap on offense the rest of the way. Mayfield mostly struggled to move the offense throughout the night, but he came up clutch when it mattered most, as he guided the Rams on a 98-yard fourth-quarter drive that concluded with a 23-yard Van Jefferson touchdown grab with 10 seconds remaining to send L.A. to a 17-16 victory. In spite of his heroics Thursday, Mayfield will likely represent little more than a low-end fantasy option the rest of the way while he plays behind a patchwork offensive line and an injury-depleted group of pass catchers. Mayfield should at least benefit from a quasi-bye week to get more familiar with his new team's playbook, as the Rams' next game is a

Mayfield completed 22 of 35 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Rams' 17-16 win over the Raiders on Thursday night. He also rushed four times for 10 yards.

Mayfield didn't start but replaced John Wolford (neck) on the game's second possession, putting together a relatively unforgettable Rams debut that had and especially noteworthy beginning and end. The 2018 first overall pick's first three completions went for over 20 yards to Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell, and after a choppy performance over the middle quarters, Mayfield came alive when it mattered most. Backed up at his own two-yard line with 1:45 remaining, Mayfield went on helm an eight-play, 98-yard drive that culminated in a game-tying 23-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson with 10 seconds remaining. Mayfield had an interception overturned by a defensive pass interference call early in the possession, but he came through with a critical 32-yard completion to Skowronek in addition to the scoring toss. Even though it's a one-game sample and Mayfield has certainly proven capable of providing short-term sparks before fizzling out in subsequent weeks, the rousing win gives the downtrodden Rams muc

Mayfield worked behind John Wolford (neck) during pregame work ahead of Thursday's contest against the Raiders, so the former likely won't start over the latter at quarterback for the Rams in Week 14, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

This comes as no surprise considering Mayfield joined L.A. just two days ago via waivers, but Wolford's sore neck still gives the former a chance to see some action. Steve Wyche of NFL Network reported as much earlier Thursday, relaying that a few sources told him Mayfield likely will enter the game at some point. Still, with a full allotment of snaps unlikely, Mayfield can't be trusted to produce right away with his new team.

Mayfield is active for Thursday's game against the Raiders, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

As are John Wolford (neck) and Bryce Perkins. It's been a whirlwind week for Mayfield, who was waived by the Panthers on Monday and claimed by the Rams one day later. With only two days to get acclimated to a new offense, Mayfield has a chance to mix into the contest or even be L.A.'s starting quarterback for Week 14, but coach Sean McVay has yet to reveal who between Wolford and Mayfield will be under center for the initial snaps on offense.

Mayfield, who is expected to be active for Thursday's game against the Raiders, will be in line to start if John Wolford (neck) isn't deemed healthy enough to play in the Week 14 contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Even though Mayfield has only practiced once for the Rams after being claimed off waivers from the Panthers on Tuesday, he already appears to have leapfrogged Bryce Perkins on the depth chart at quarterback. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Mayfield is already up to speed with the Rams' game plan after joining the team late Tuesday, but the team would presumably to keep him in a backup capacity this week if Wolford is ready to play. Wolford is listed as questionable and will go through pregame warmups before the Rams make a decision on his availability leading up to the team's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that he's leaning toward Mayfield being active for Thursday's game against Las Vegas.

The Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers Tuesday and presumably won't start him two days later, but they might make him active as the backup, especially if John Wolford (questionable - neck) doesn't play. Wolford and Perkins both have made starts in recent weeks with Matthew Stafford (neck) out for the season, and neither has been impressive. Not that Mayfield was any better for the Panthers this year, but he might get another chance to start all the same at some point in December/January.

The Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

One day after the Panthers granted Mayfield's request to get waived, he'll land with one of the NFC West teams currently dealing with injuries in their quarterback rooms. In L.A., Matthew Stafford (neck) effectively is done for the season, while John Wolford again is dealing with a neck injury, leaving Bryce Perkins as the only healthy option at the position before Mayfield's arrival. If Wolford is unable to go Thursday against the Raiders, Perkins almost certainly get the start under center. However, Mayfield may get a chance to direct the Rams offense at some point down the stretch.

The Panthers waived Mayfield on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Mayfield's $1.35 million salary for the remainder of the 2022 season would be assumed by any team that successfully claims him on waivers, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, which could play a factor in determining his next landing spot. A number of teams could have interest in giving the 2018 first-round pick another chance, including quarterback-needy clubs like the Texans, the Rams who placed Matthew Stafford (neck) on IR on Saturday, or the 49ers who lost Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) to a season-ending injury Sunday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Mayfield requested to part ways with the Panthers, and the team agreed. Through seven games this season Mayfield has completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,313 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Panthers are expected to waive Mayfield on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield, who likely would have dropped down to No. 3 on Carolina's depth chart when PJ Walker (ankle) returns to health behind Sam Darnold, will instead hit waivers Monday. The 2018 no. 1 overall pick boasts just a 6:6 TD:INT through seven appearances with the Panthers this season, and it looks like the team would rather address other needs on the 53-man roster than continue to facilitate his development. Mayfield will stand to draw interest on waivers from teams around the league with a need at quarterback, such as the 49ers in the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending foot injury.

Mayfield is expected to be inactive for the Panthers' next game Week 14 at Seattle if PJ Walker (ankle) is healthy enough to serve as Sam Darnold's backup, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Walker has missed the Panthers' last two games with a high-ankle sprain, after starting each of the prior five contests. Mayfield, who had started the Panthers' first five games before losing the job to Walker due to injury and poor performance, stepped back into the lineup Week 11, but he threw for just 196 yards and was intercepted twice in a 13-3 loss to the Ravens. Even while Walker was sidelined Week 12, the Panthers chose to bypass Mayfield for the start in favor of Darnold, who committed no turnovers and contributed one touchdown through the air and one on the ground in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Broncos. Interim head coach Steve Wilks has already confirmed that Darnold will retain the starting job coming out of the team's Week 13 bye, and with Walker likely to be ready to go for Week 14, Mayfield looks set to drop to third on the depth chart. Newton suggests that the Panthers could look to release Mayfield in order to address other areas of need on the 53-man roster.

Mayfield will move back to a reserve role after interim coach Steve Wilks named Sam Darnold as the Panthers' Week 12 starting quarterback Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

With PJ Walker currently sidelined due to a high-ankle sprain, Mayfield got the nod under center this past Sunday at Baltimore, completing 21 of 33 passes for 196 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 13-3 loss. Wilks evidently saw enough and will move on to a third No. 1 QB in as many games Sunday versus the Broncos. Mayfield thus will have to wait for another chance to direct Carolina's offense.

Mayfield completed 21 of 33 passes for 196 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed twice for 12 yards in the Panthers' 13-3 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

Mayfield unsurprisingly put together lackluster numbers against an aggressive defense that was able to sack him on four occasions and hit him an additional three times. The beleaguered 2018 first overall pick short-circuited drives at his own 41-yard and the Ravens' 41 on his pair of fourth-quarter interceptions, snuffing out any chance of a Carolina comeback. Given Sunday's middling results, it wouldn't be surprising to see PJ Walker (ankle) or Sam Darnold get a crack at the starting assignment over Mayfield in a Week 12 home date against the Broncos.

Coach Steve Wilks said Monday that Mayfield will start Sunday's game against the Ravens due to PJ Walker suffering a high-ankle sprain, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield and Sam Darnold, both now fully healthy, also spent time sidelined with high-ankle sprains this season. With Walker now potentially facing a multi-week absence, Mayfield will return as Carolina's starting quarterback for the first time since Week 5, though he could quickly face pressure from Darnold should he struggle out of the gate versus Baltimore. Back in Week 9's loss to the Bengals, Walker was benched at halftime for performance reasons, leading to a performance in which Mayfield completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

PJ Walker is slated to start Thursday night's game against the Falcons, with Mayfield in line to remain his backup, David Newton of ESPN reports.

The announcement was made by coach Steve Wilks on Monday afternoon, following the team's activation of QB Sam Darnold to the 53-man roster, and in the wake of Walker being benched at halftime (and replaced by Mayfield) in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. It remains to be seen what the Panthers' signal-caller plans are beyond Week 10, with Newton suggesting that the team would like to get another look at Darnold at some point this season and noting that it's possible Mayfield could potentially be released in the coming weeks.

Mayfield completed 14 of his 20 pass attempts for 155 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Bengals.

Mayfield entered the game in relief of PJ Walker, who was benched at halftime. Mayfield turned in the better performance of the duo, but as he noted in his postgame comments, the Bengals were playing soft coverage while protecting a multi-score lead. Nevertheless, he made the case to retake his role as Carolina's starting quarterback, with interim coach Steve Wilks saying after the game that he needs to evaluate the tape prior to naming a starter for Thursday's Week 10 matchup against the Falcons, per David Newton of ESPN.com.

Mayfield (ankle) isn't listed on the Panthers' injury report Wednesday.

While Mayfield has put his left high-ankle sprain behind him, he won't get the starting nod over PJ Walker on Sunday in Atlanta, as interim coach Steve Wilks told Joe Person of The Athletic on Monday. There's also the prospect of Sam Darnold (ankle) being activated from injured reserve in the near future, which would serve as another impediment for Mayfield in the quarterback room. At least for Week 8, though, Mayfield will be Carolina's No. 2 signal-caller.

Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said that PJ Walker will start Sunday's game in Atlanta, regardless of the health of Mayfield (ankle) and Sam Darnold (ankle), Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Wilks may elect to evaluate the Panthers' starting quarterback situation on a week-by-week basis, but "as of right now," the coach said that Walker has earned the job after playing mistake-free football while throwing for two touchdowns in Carolina's 21-3 upset win over Tampa Bay in Week 7. Given Walker's underwhelming career numbers prior to last week, he's unlikely to have a long leash on the starting role, so a healthy Mayfield or Darnold could eventually get another look if Walker's play takes a step backward. Even before he suffered a left high-ankle sprain Week 5 that kept him out the last two games, Mayfield was playing his way out of the starting job. Through his five starts, Mayfield completed just 54.9 percent of his passes for 4:4 TD:INT and 6.3 yards per attempt while the Panthers got off to a 1-4 start to the season.

Mayfield (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

As expected, Mayfield will miss a second straight contest due to a high left-ankle sprain. While PJ Walker will serve as Carolina's starting quarterback with Jacob Eason handling backup duties, Mayfield will turn his focus for a potential return to action next Sunday in Atlanta.

Mayfield (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, with coach Steve Wilks saying Friday that the quarterback won't be active, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield will miss a second game, and possibly more, despite returning to a limited practice Friday and being listed as 'doubtful' rather than 'out' on the final injury report. There's also some question whether he or Sam Darnold will be the starter if/when both are healthy, while the Week 7 nod goes to P.J. Walker.

Mayfield (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Mayfield was inactive for this past weekend's loss to the Rams, but the QB is clearly making progress from the ankle injury that he suffered in Week 5. That said, coach Steve Wilks relayed Wednesday that PJ Walker would start this Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, with Jacob Eason likely to serve as his backup.

Mayfield (ankle) was present for practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

It remains to be seen how the Panthers list the QB's participation level, but regardless of where Mayfield lands on Friday's final injury report, he won't be a candidate to start Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Per David Newton of ESPN, coach Steve Wilks has already named PJ Walker as the team's Week 7 starter, with Jacob Eason slated to handle backup duties.

Mayfield (ankle) was present, but wasn't in uniform for Wednesday's practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

The report notes that the QB wasn't sporting a walking boot, as was the case Monday, with Newton noting that Mayfield appeared to be moving well Wednesday, while doing running drills. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold (ankle) has been designated to return from IR and was at practice Wednesday, as was PJ Walker (neck).

Interim head coach Steve Wilks said Mayfield (ankle) is considered week-to-week after an MRI revealed ligament damage in his ankle, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 5 and was sidelined for Week 6, paving the way for PJ Walker to make his first start of the season. However, Walker was knocked out of the contest due to a neck injury, which forced Jacob Eason into action. Given the MRI results, Mayfield is a likely candidate to wind up on IR, but it's unclear who'll be the Panthers' starting quarterback moving forward. Sam Darnold (ankle) has been on IR since suffering a high-ankle sprain of his own during training camp, but he's expected to be activated off IR ahead of Week 7, though it's still unclear if he'll be able to play Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Mayfield (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game at the Rams, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

After picking up a high-ankle sprain last Sunday against the 49ers, Mayfield sought a second opinion on the injury, which confirmed its nature and the fact he didn't sustain any additional damage. Despite not practicing this week, the Panthers left the door slightly ajar for him to be active, deeming him doubtful, but ultimately he'll yield the start to P.J. Walker, with Jacob Eason backing up Walker. Mayfield seems unlikely to recover in time for a Week 7 matchup with the Buccaneers next Sunday, but that'll mark his next opportunity to return to action.

Mayfield (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Rams after not practicing Friday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Per Gantt, coach Steve Wilks indicated that Mayfield "had a great workout" Friday morning, but the Panthers will start P.J. Walker at QB on Sunday against the Rams, while Mayfield could potentially serve as the backup. If he isn't available to do so, Jacob Eason is a candidate to be elevated for the team's practice squad ahead of Week 6 action.

Mayfield (ankle) didn't participate in Friday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Mayfield, who previously was spotted around practice in a walking boot, shed the boot Friday, per Gantt and at this stage the QB hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams. The Panthers' upcoming injury report will add further context with regard to Mayfield's chances of being in uniform this weekend, but it he's unable to play, P.J. Walker would be in line to draw the start versus Los Angeles.

Mayfield (ankle) isn't participating in practice Thursday, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Though the Panthers haven't officially ruled Mayfield out for Sunday's game against the Rams, he's dealing with a left high-ankle sprain, an injury that typically necessitates a multi-week recovery period. With that in mind, Mayfield doesn't appear to be trending toward starting Sunday, especially after missing practices Wednesday and Thursday. P.J. Walker looks to have the inside track on the Week 6 starting nod, while Jacob Eason will likely be elevated from the practice squad if Mayfield isn't fit to handle backup duties.

Mayfield (ankle) isn't practicing Wednesday.

Mayfield suffered a high ankle sprain just three days prior, though reports suggest it isn't an especially severe sprain. Even so, Mayfield is no lock to be ready for Sunday's game against the Rams, potentially setting up P.J. Walker for the start (Sam Darnold is still on injured reserve due to his own ankle injury).

Mayfield (ankle) is considered day-to-day going into the Panthers' Week 6 matchup with the Rams, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Mayfield suffered a high-ankle sprain in Carolina's Week 5 loss to the 49ers, which is typically a multi-week injury. However, given his pain tolerance, he has a day-to-day outlook as of now. P.J. Walker would be the prime candidate to replace him under center should he ultimately be unable to go, as Sam Darnold (ankle) is not ready to be activated from IR and rookie third-rounder Matt Corral (foot) is out for the season. If he does ultimately sit out, Jacob Eason would presumably be elevated from the team's practice squad to back up Walker. The situation will need to be monitored as the week progresses.

The second opinion on Mayfield's high left-ankle sprain revealed that he doesn't have a major injury and won't require surgery, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield played through the issue in the second half of Sunday's loss to the 49ers, eventually finishing 20-for-36 passing for 215 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also yielded the Panthers' final drive of the game to backup P.J. Walker. Now that the severity of Mayfield's injury is confirmed, he's trending toward an absence this Sunday at the Rams, but he isn't slated to go on injured reserve, so he'll have a chance to return within Carolina's next four contests. Walker is expected to step in for Mayfield, and with Sam Darnold (ankle) not ready to be activated from IR and rookie third-rounder Matt Corral (foot) out for the season, Jacob Eason, currently on the practice squad, may be the team's No. 2 QB moving forward.

Mayfield (ankle) is seeking a second opinion on his injury in the hopes of playing Week 6 versus the Rams, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's loss to the 49ers, and he's set for an MRI on Monday. If a high-ankle sprain is confirmed it seems all but unavoidable that Mayfield misses some time, but the quarterback is reportedly seeking a way to remain in the starting lineup Week 6. Given that Sam Darnold (ankle) is not on track to return from IR this week, it would fall to P.J. Walker to start versus Los Angeles if Mayfield is ultimately unable to go.

Mayfield is expected to miss time due to the right high-ankle sprain he suffered in Sunday's loss to the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield's recovery timetable hasn't yet been established, but the quarterback is at least set to miss the Panthers' Week 6 matchup with the Rams. With Sam Darnold (ankle) not on track to return from injured reserve this week, P.J. Walker appears positioned to draw the start in Los Angeles. In addition to having to now overcome a significant injury, Mayfield will have to adjust to the Panthers' having fired head coach Matt Rhule on Monday and naming Steve Wilks as the new interim boss. Wilks becomes the sixth different head coach that Mayfield will have worked with in his NFL career.

Mayfield is scheduled to receive an MRI on his foot Monday after leaving Sunday's loss to the 49ers in a walking boot, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield has already had X-Rays on his foot, which came back negative. The starting quarterback was checked for an ankle injury at halftime of Sunday's loss before being replaced by P.J. Walker, and the results of Monday's MRI should reveal more about his chances of suiting up Week 6 against the Rams. If Mayfield is forced to miss time, it could fall to Walker to step in and helm Carolina's offense. It remains to be seen whether Sam Darnold (ankle) will be ready to come off IR for Week 6.

Mayfield was checked for an ankle injury at halftime of Sunday's 37-15 loss to the 49ers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Per Gantt, Mayfield had a walking boot on after the game.

Mayfield stayed in after being evaluated at halftime and was ultimately replaced by P.J. Walker for Carolina's last possession with the Panthers trailing 37-15. The post-game walking boot suggests that exit may have been more than precautionary, so Mayfield's ability to practice will bear monitoring ahead of Carolina's Week 6 road game against the Rams. Mayfield completed 20 of 36 passes for 215 yards and one interception in addition to being sacked four times prior to being lifted from the blowout loss.

Mayfield completed 22 of 36 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Cardinals.

He also had two carries but gained zero yards on them, and he also lost a fumble. Mayfield's now failed to reach 200 passing yards in three straight games and has yet to toss more than one TD in a game this year, but if there was a silver lining to Sunday's effort it was his season-high 61.1 percent completion rate. Carolina's passing game will face a daunting challenge in Week 5 against the 49ers.

Mayfield completed 12 of 25 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-14 win over the Saints.

Mayfield's performance was propped up by a 67-yard, catch-and-run touchdown by Laviska Shenault to begin the fourth quarter. Overall, though, Mayfield still completed under 50 percent of his passes for the second straight game. With starting wideouts DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson combining for just 16 yards through the air Sunday, Mayfield will strive to finally get the passing game clicking in Week 4 versus the Cardinals.

Mayfield completed 14 of 29 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Giants. He also rushed six times for 35 yards.

Mayfield struggled to generate much in the passing game Sunday, as the Panthers suffered a second-straight narrow defeat to begin the season. While his 16-yard touchdown to DJ Moore and uncharacteristic rushing production helped his performance, Mayfield still approaches Week 3's matchup versus the Saints striving to click as Carolina's lead signal caller.

Mayfield completed 16 of 27 passes for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Browns. He also rushed five times for six yards and a touchdown.

Mayfield took a while to get Carolina's offense going, but after scrambling for a seven-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, he subsequently found Robbie Anderson for a 75-yard score on his very next play. Although him leading the Panthers to a late, go-ahead field goal ultimately wasn't enough to defeat his former team, Mayfield's second-half performance should offer some encouragement ahead of Week 2's matchup against the Giants. It's worth noting, however, that Mayfield was charged with four fumbles Sunday, and even though he recovered just as many, that still represents an area he'll aim to clean up going forward.

Mayfield completed nine of 15 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's preseason win over the Bills.

Mayfield led four offensive drives for the team and had mixed results, barely moving the team on two occasions but also leading two touchdown drives. He was most impressive on a 12-play, 53-yard drive midway through the first quarter, which was highlighted by completions of 21 and 15 yards and capped by a two-yard touchdown toss to D'Onta Foreman. Mayfield played in two of Carolina's three preseason games and completed 13 of 22 passes for 134 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He's set to draw the start against Cleveland -- his former team -- in Week 1.

Coach Matt Rhule indicated that Mayfield could play into the second quarter of Friday's preseason finale against the Bills, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

The report indicates that the Panthers are currently inclined to play their healthy starters in the contest, though David Newton of ESPN.com suggests the team may play it safe with top back Christian McCaffrey. Once Mayfield gets through his stint Friday, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker will be available handle the team's QB reps the rest of the way.

Mayfield is expected to play the first quarter of Friday's preseason game against the Bills, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

This preseason nugget arrives after the Panthers officially named Mayfield as their starting quarterback ahead of Week 1. Once the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft gets through his abbreviated stint Friday, his focus will turn to preparing for Carolina's season opener against his former team, the Browns.

The Panthers have named Mayfield as their starting quarterback ahead of Week 1, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

The decision was relayed Monday by head coach Matt Rhule, with Mayfield now set to start the Panthers' Week 1 contest against the Browns. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is slated to serve as the team's No. 2 QB, with P.J. Walker in line to slot in as the Carolina's third signal caller, given that rookie Matt Corral is sidelined by a foot injury. The Panthers plan to start Mayfield in their preseason finale Friday against Buffalo, giving him a few more reps to warm up for Week 1, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Coach Matt Rhule wasn't ready to announce the Panthers' starting quarterback between Mayfield and Sam Darnold for Week 1 after Friday's preseason loss at New England, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

There was a belief Rhule would make a decision after preseason Week 2, but that may have gone out the window when both Mayfield and Darnold were kept out of the game. Rhule's comments imply as much, meaning he likely wants to see another week of prep before deploying the signal-callers next Friday against the Bills.

Neither Mayfield nor Darnold will start Friday's preseason game against New England, with the Panthers instead turning to P.J. Walker to lead a crew of mostly backups, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Some might take it as a sign the battle for the starting QB job is all but settled, with Mayfield emerging as the favorite and Darnold not getting a chance to make up ground Friday night. Jeff Howe of The Athletic recently reported that the decision is all but made, even though the Panthers haven't announced a winner. On the other hand, Fowler's report Friday morning suggests the decision may not be finalized. Coach Matt Rhule said in early August that the earliest he'd announce a Week 1 starter would be after the upcoming matchup with New England.

Mayfield is expected to be named Carolina's starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Browns, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

After Carolina acquired Mayfield in early July, it seemed likely that he would ultimately earn the starting role. However, the team has remained quiet on an official announcement, and Mayfield continues to split reps with Sam Darnold for first-team reps in practice. Nevertheless, Mayfield is expected to be named the starter, setting up an intriguing matchup in Week 1 against his former team.

Mayfield and Sam Darnold will continue splitting first-team reps during joint practices with New England this week, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Both played reasonably well in very limited action during the preseason opener. Coach Matt Rhule said the practices actually could be more important than Friday's preseason game against the Patriots, in which Mayfield and Darnold should get a bit more playing than they did in Saturday's win over Washington.

Mayfield completed four of seven passes for 45 yards in Saturday's 23-21 preseason win over the Commanders.

Mayfield started the game and led the offense to a field goal on his only possession. He connected for gains of 19 and 15 yards with Shi Smith and also dumped off a few passes to fullback Giovanni Ricci to account for most of his yardage. It was a relatively positive appearance for Mayfield as he battles for the starting job in Carolina with Sam Darnold. However, after the game, coach Matt Rhule said that no decision has been made about the Week 1 starter, per Augusta Stone of the Panther's official site.

Mayfield will start Saturday's preseason contest against the Commanders.

Mayfield is currently embroiled in a battle for the starting QB job with Sam Darnold, but it does appear as if the former Browns signal caller has the upper hand at the moment. Both quarterbacks are expected to play only about a series apiece, with the following week of practice likely determining who will enter Week 1 as the starter.

Coach Matt Rhule said Thursday that Mayfield and Sam Darnold will each play roughly one series apiece during Saturday's preseason contest in Washington, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

In particular, Rhule noted each quarterback will get 8-to-10 snaps, but he also didn't state who will be under center first between the duo. Mayfield took on more reps with the first-team offense as training camp progressed, so he may be the favorite to start this weekend. Still, the team isn't expected to name its No. 1 QB for the regular-season opener until after its second exhibition Friday, Aug. 19 in New England, at the earliest.

Coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday that Mayfield and Sam Darnold will both take the field during Saturday's preseason opener against Washington, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Mayfield appears to have pulled ahead in Carolina's quarterback competition, per Ellis Williams of The Charlotte Observer, but Rhule didn't reveal whether he or Darnold will actually start Saturday's preseason event. The Panthers aren't expected to declare a regular-season starter until after the second preseason game, August 19 at New England, though a strong performance in the opener could go a long way in Mayfield's favor.

Mayfield has established himself as the Panthers' best option at quarterback during practice this week, Ellis Williams of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Mayfield has garnered positive reviews since joining Carolina, with his performance through training camp thus far increasing the expectation that he'll ultimately be named the team's starting signal-caller over Sam Darnold. Despite having just three weeks with his new coaching staff, Mayfield's command of coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense reportedly already mirrors that of Darnold. Furthermore, with noted chemistry targeting wideouts Rashard Higgins and Robbie Anderson, as well as utilization of go-to playmakers Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore, the first-string job seems to be Mayfield's to lose. Although coach Matt Rhule isn't expected to officially name a starter until after the second preseason game, Mayfield approaches this Saturday's exhibition opener versus the Commanders with considerable positive momentum.

Mayfield has shown improvement throughout training camp and is becoming more comfortable with coach Matt Rhule's playbook, The Panthers' official website reports.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network suggested Monday that Mayfield "continues to impress" and has "put himself in position to be the starter Week 1." National reporters like Garafolo may not be as familiar with the team as local beat guys, but the latter also seem to view Mayfield as the favorite -- and the same goes for general public sentiment. For now, Mayfield figures to continue splitting first-team reps with Sam Darnold, though it sounds like it might not be too long before the former Brown takes the lion's share. Rhule said the earliest he'd consider announcing a Week 1 starter would be after joint practices with the Patriots next week, leading up to an Aug. 19 exhibition with New England.

Neither Mayfield nor Sam Darnold has pulled away from the other over the first few days of training camp, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Mayfield has had the higher highs, per Gantt, but Darnold has been more consistent thus far. While Mayfield faces a steeper learning curve after having been acquired via trade in July, his Thursday session was the sharpest from either quarterback to date. This competition may take a while to resolve, but Mayfield's the consensus favorite to eventually beat out Darnold as Carolina's Week 1 starter under center.

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer confirmed Mayfield will be part of an open QB competition this summer, also noting that the team hasn't discussed a contract extension and is taking a "short term" view on Mayfield, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Fitterer expects the QB snaps to be split "fairly even" between Mayfield and Sam Darnold early in training camp, while rookie third-round pick Matt Corral will enter camp as the third-stringer. The Panthers recently acquired Mayfield in a trade with the Browns, giving up a fifth-round pick (that can turn into a fourth-rounder based on playing time) and taking on only part of the QB's salary. It sounds like Mayfield will be healthy for the start of camp, after having surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder in January.

Following his trade to the Panthers, Mayfield is slated to compete with Sam Darnold for the team's starting QB job, David Newton of ESPN reports.

The Panthers went 5-12 last season with Darnold appearing in 12 games, and now Mayfield (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft) will look to supplant Carolina's incumbent starter (the No. 3 overall pick in 2018) as the summer rolls along. Per Newton, the Panthers landed Mayfield for a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick (which can become a fourth-rounder), while the Browns are slated to pay $10.5 million of the signal-caller's 2022 salary and Panthers are in line to pay $4.85 million (plus incentives) of it. In his fourth and final season with Cleveland, Mayfield was hampered by a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an issue he's indicated he's past. Assuming that's the case, the 27-year-old figures to share Carolina's first-team QB reps with Darnold (with rookie Matt Corral working behind them) once training camp opens later this month.

The Panthers are slated to send a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick to the Browns in exchange for Mayfield, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

The deal, which is pending a physical, sets the stage Mayfield to head to Carolina, where he's slated to join a QB room that also includes Sam Darnold. The two are thus in line to compete for the Panthers' starting job this summer, while Jacoby Brissett profiles as the clear-cut top backup to Deshaun Watson in Cleveland.

Mayfield (shoulder) hasn't totally ruled out the possibility of a reconciliation with the Browns, but at this stage the signal caller is ready to move on from the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2018, ESPN's Jake Trotter reports.

"I think for that to happen there would have to be some reaching out," Mayfield noted of potentially remaining with Cleveland in the event that fellow quarterback Deshaun Watson is handed a lengthy suspension. "But we're ready to move on, I think -- on both sides." Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns are still trying to trade Mayfield, who is reportedly fully recovered from a torn labrum in his left non-throwing shoulder and is slated to be full go for the start of training camp. As things stand, however, it's presumed that Jacoby Brissett would handle the team's starting duties (backed up by Joshua Dobbs) if Watson is suspended.

The Browns have excused Mayfield (shoulder) from next week's mandatory minicamp, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Mayfield will be allowed to remain away from team facilities during mandatory minicamp without being subjected to fines. The 2018 first-round pick also hasn't attended voluntary OTAs, as both he and the team remain in favor of a trade following Cleveland's decision to bring in Deshaun Watson. Mayfield is continuing to rehab from January shoulder surgery, so it's possible he wouldn't be handling on-field reps even if he were motivated to participate in team activities.

Mayfield (shoulder) won't attend the Browns' voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

As expected, Mayfield will continue to stay away from the team as the two sides remain in favor of trading the 2018 first-round pick after the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson this offseason. Mayfield also continues to rehab from surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder that he underwent in January, so even if the two sides were on good terms, he likely wouldn't be participating anyways. The Panthers have emerged as the favorite to land Mayfield this offseason, but the deal appears to be hindered by the quarterback's $18.86 million option for the 2022 campaign.

Mayfield (shoulder) wasn't present Tuesday for the start of the Browns' voluntary offseason program, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield's absence was anticipated, as he's still rehabbing from surgery on the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Moreover, it's expected that the Browns will look to trade Mayfield following the team's addition last month of fellow quarterback Deshaun Watson. Per Cabot, of the franchises potentially in the mix for Mayfield's services, the Panthers may have the best chance to deal for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

As the 2022 NFL Draft approaches, the Browns are actively looking to trade Mayfield (shoulder), ESPN's Jake Trotter reports.

For his part, Mayfield, who acknowledged that he feels "disrespected" by the Browns after they traded for fellow QB Deshaun Watson last month, "is ready for the next chapter." With the Colts having dealt for Matt Ryan, Indianapolis -- once a preferred destination for Mayfield -- is out of the running to make a move for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. With that in mind, the Seahawks, who traded away Russell Wilson this offseason, continue to profile as a potential fit for Mayfield, who is under contract for the coming season at $18.9 million (fully guaranteed). The 27-year-old is bouncing back from a procedure that he underwent in January to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

The Browns will seek a trade partner for Mayfield (shoulder) after acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans for five draft picks Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Browns entered the fray for Watson this week, only to be considered out of the running for his services Thursday. One day later, though, Cleveland landed the quarterback, leaving Mayfield in limbo. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Mayfield prefers the Colts among all the QB-needy teams, but it remains to be seen where he lands. Once his destination is known, Mayfield may be delayed in throwing to his new teammates as he continues his recovery from January surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.

Mayfield (shoulder) has reportedly requested a trade from the Browns, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.

This comes on the heels of the Browns looking into a possible trade for fellow quarterback Deshaun Watson. While Cleveland in no longer in the mix on that front, it appears as though Mayfield is looking for a fresh start elsewhere. However, shortly after reports of his desire to be moved surfaced, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com relayed that the Browns do not wish to accommodate Mayfield's request.

The Browns are out of the running to trade for Deshaun Watson and now view Mayfield (shoulder) as their starting quarterback moving forward, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

It might be an awkward relationship with everyone well aware the Browns pursued an upgrade in the offseason. That said, the team reportedly told Mayfield's agent they would only look into top-notch QBs, suggesting they'll now move forward with Mayfield rather than trading him away and bringing in a different mid/low-level starter. The soon-to-be 27-year-old QB is scheduled to play out 2022 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, assuming he and the Browns are able to move forward together. The team may view the upcoming NFL Draft as another avenue to find a potential franchise QB. In the meantime, Mayfield will continue rehabbing from January shoulder surgery.

Both GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed during their NFL Combine press conferences that Mayfield (shoulder) will start for the Browns in 2022, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, who is said to be ahead of schedule in his rehab from a procedure to repair the torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, is headed into the final year of his contract on the heels of a subpar 2021 campaign. With no extension in the works, Mayfield -- who who can begin throwing in April -- will look to engineer a bounce-back effort in 2022, in the hope that he can prove to the Browns that he's the franchise's long-term answer at quarterback. While Cabot suggests that the team will explore its options, pursuing one of the veteran signal-callers who might be available this offseason is not an anticipated strategy. A more likely approach figures to involve seeking upgrades at wideout, through the draft, free agency, or both.

Mayfield (shoulder) is ahead of schedule in his rehab from shoulder surgery he underwent in Jan. 2022, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

At the time of Mayfield's surgery on his left shoulder (non-throwing), the Browns estimated the quarterback would begin light throwing in April and a full recovery in time for training camp. Cabot reports that doctors are encouraged by Mayfield's progress, noting the work he put in during the regular season to strengthen the damaged shoulder is having a positive impact on his recovery. At this point, Mayfield is expected to be the starting quarterback this upcoming season, working on the fifth and final year of his contact, although there has been speculation about the Browns exploring other options as a fallback plan.

Mayfield has undergone a successful procedure to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.

Per the report, the QB's recovery period is expected to be in the 4-6 month range. Additionally, the Browns anticipate that Mayfield should be able to begin light throwing in April and participate in the team's offseason program on a limited basis. Beyond that, the expectation is Mayfield will be fully recovered the start of training camp, at which point he'll remain Cleveland's starting QB, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The No. 1 overall pick in 2018 NFL Draft is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which is worth a fully guaranteed $18.86 million in 2022.

Mayfield (shoulder) will have surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

It'd be more of a concern for 2022 if the injury affected his throwing arm. As is, Mayfield should be ready for training camp, if not the Browns' offseason program. He's scheduled to play out 2022 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and while the Browns reportedly plan to retain him as their starter (per Rapoport), it's unclear if they'll seriously discuss an extension. Even accounting for the injury, 2021 was a clear step back from the year before, both for Mayfield personally and the Browns offense as a whole.

The Browns will plan to head into the offseason with the intention of retaining Mayfield (shoulder) as their starting quarterback entering 2022, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.

Mayfield will miss Sunday's season finale against the Bengals while he rests up in advance of his Jan. 19 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury he had been playing through since Week 2. The 26-year-old also played through a number of other injuries during the campaign, with his poor health perhaps contributing to his underwhelming statistics (60.5 percent completion rate, 7.2 YPA, 17:13 TD:INT) over 14 outings. According to Rapoport and Pelissero, Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski met Friday, and sources say the two are on the same page as the 2018 No. 1 overall pick enters the final year of his contract in 2022, which is worth a fully guaranteed $18.86 million. The report suggests that if Mayfield plays well under the final year of his deal, Cleveland could place its franchise tag on him next offseason or look to work out an extension with him entering 2023.

Mayfield is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder Jan. 19, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The 26-year-old has already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals after being placed on injured reserve earlier Wednesday, and he won't wait too long into the offseason before undergoing surgery. Mayfield should have enough time to make a full recovery in time for training camp after playing through the injury during 2021, though the nature of his procedure makes it unlikely he'll be a full participant for OTAs this spring. Case Keenum is set to start under center for the Browns in Week 18 versus the Bengals, with Nick Mullens serving as the backup quarterback.

Mayfield (shoulder) has been placed on IR by the Browns.

No surprise here, as Mayfield had already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals. In a corresponding move, Nick Mullens was added to Cleveland's active roster from the practice squad to back up Case Keenum in Week 18.

Mayfield (shoulder) will not play in the Browns' season finale Sunday versus the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield is set to undergo surgery to address a torn labrum in his left shoulder "as soon as possible" according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. The fourth-year quarterback ends his 2021 campaign having completed 60.6 percent of his 418 pass attempts for 3,010 yards and a 17:13 TD:INT ratio. Case Keenum figures to make his second start of the season Sunday in a game that doesn't hold much importance with the Browns eliminated from playoff contention.

Mayfield said after Monday's 26-14 loss to the Steelers that he will require surgery to address the labrum tear in his left shoulder, but he'll confer with his agent and family before deciding whether to go under the knife prior to the Browns' Week 18 game against the Bengals or during the offseason, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Even if Mayfield decides to postpone the procedure until the offseason, he may still sit out Week 18, given that the Browns are already eliminated from playoff contention in addition to the fact that he's also battled left foot soreness and a right knee contusion this season. Mayfield has been playing through the torn labrum since Week 2, and though the injury is to his non-throwing arm, playing with his left shoulder in a harness may have had some at least some effect on his poor play in 2021. The 26-year-old suffered through another rough outing in Pittsburgh on Monday, taking nine sacks and throwing two interceptions while also tossing 10 consecutive incompletions at one point during the contest. The Browns and Mayfield could mutually decide that it's in his best interest to rest for the regular-season finale, which would allow Case Keenum to nab his second start of the campaign.

Mayfield completed 16 of 38 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Monday night's 26-14 loss to the Steelers.

Mayfield found Jarvis Landry for a 20-yard gain on his first throw before things went south. In fact, amid passes being batted down by opponents and dropped by his teammates, Mayfield's next 10 attempts were incomplete, marking a record by a quarterback this season. That streak also included an interception, which was the result of Mayfield's final throw of the night as well. In his defense, though, the signal-caller was under siege most of the game, taking a career-high nine sacks, and Mayfield at least contributed a pair of touchdown tosses in the second half. Still, after four picks in his outing prior, Mayfield's showing Monday didn't do anything to raise optimism over his stock heading into Week 18's finale versus the Bengals.

Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Mayfield's performance has been hindered by a harness the quarterback has worn for his injured left shoulder, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Van Pelt said the harness "handcuffed him a little bit," an issue that became more evident following Mayfield's four-interception game last week against Green Bay. Head coach Kevin Stefanski believes the quarterback has adjusted to the harness and refuses to see it as an excuse for Mayfield's performance. Entering Monday night's meeting in Pittsburgh, Mayfield has an 86.1 quarterback rating, the second-lowest in four seasons and off from last year's 95.9 rating, and completed 62.4 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Mayfield completed 21 of 36 pass attempts for 222 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions against Green Bay on Saturday.

Mayfield made a handful of nice throws and had an on-target deep ball dropped by Donovan Peoples-Jones at one point, but the four interceptions were a brutal sight and arguably the primary reason the Browns fell in the 24-22 loss. There just isn't much reason to think Mayfield can provide the Browns with high-volume passing production unless the matchup is a favorable one, because in this game and others he seems out of his comfort zone when playing catch-up or when otherwise forced to throw without the aid of playaction setups. The Browns should have the luxury of limiting Mayfield's exposure by setting up more favorable looks against the Steelers in Week 17, assuming they can manage the pass rush threat posed by T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. A healthier offensive line would be reassuring on that front after playing without left tackle Jedrick Wills against Green Bay.

Both Mayfield and Case Keenum cleared COVID-19 protocols in advance of Saturday's game against the Packers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns are thus in line to have their top two QBs available Saturday, after Nick Mullens started in place of Mayfield in this past Monday's loss to the Raiders. Per Stacey Dales of NFL Network, Mayfield indicated that he was asymptomatic during his time on the list and was able to remain involved virtually. Moreover, the signal-caller, who's been banged up this season, suggested that after some time off the field his body feels as healthy as it has for a while. Helping Mayfield's Week 16 cause is that wideout Jarvis Landry and tight end Austin Hooper - who were unavailable Monday - are also poised to return to the mix versus Green Bay.

Mayfield was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.

The same goes for backup QB Case Keenum and top WR Jarvis Landry, giving the Cleveland offense its full complement of skill-position players apart from No. 2 RB Kareem Hunt (ankle/illness). A road trip to Green Bay won't be easy, especially after so many players have missed practice time, though in Mayfield's case the rest might not be such a bad thing given that he's been playing through injuries (primarily to his shoulder) for most of the year. He figures to get the start this Saturday, with Cleveland and Green Bay scheduled for a 4:30 ET kickoff on Christmas Day.

Mayfield (illness) will be able to play Saturday against the Packers because his 10-day quarantine period expires Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Players that landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on or before Dec. 15 will be eligible because of expiring quarantine periods.

If Mayfield gets a negative test prior to Friday, he can join the team on the flight to Green Bay. If not, he'll have to travel separately Friday. So, it would appear the Browns will have their starting quarterback available Saturday; the only caveat being Mayfield has not been able to practice with the team since Tuesday of last week. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was cleared Wednesday after testing negative, avoids that travel predicament. Stefanski stressed that every player who returns from the reserve/COVID-19 list in time to play will need to be evaluated by the club's medical staff, including the player's conditioning. Other members of the team in the same boat as Mayfield include wide receiver Jarvis Landry and left tackle Jedrick Wills. Backup quarterback Case Keenum will need to test negative in order to be active for the game.

Mayfield (illness) has reportedly been unable to clear the league's COVID-19 protocols Monday and will not suit up versus the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield was not among players activated by the Browns on Monday morning, and Jake Trotter of ESPN.com confirms that both he and backup Case Keenum (illness) remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That leaves Nick Mullens as the de facto starter versus Las Vegas, while the status of top receiving options Jarvis Landry (illness) and Austin Hooper (illness) also remain uncertain. Mayfield's next chance to play will come Saturday at Green Bay, if he's able to gain full clearance.

Mayfield posted on his Instagram account that he is asymptomatic and hopes to test negative and play against the Raiders on Monday.

The Browns-Raiders' Week 15 game was moved from Saturday to Monday at 5 p.m. ET after a wave of COVID-19 struck many members of the Browns, including Mayfield and backup quarterback Case Keenum. Nick Mullens has been added to the active roster and will get the start should neither Mayfield nor Keenum clear protocols.

Mayfield and the Browns will no longer play the Raiders on Saturday, after the NFL officially rescheduled the matchup between the two teams for Monday at 5 p.m. ET.

Due to ongoing COVID-19-related concerns within the Cleveland organization, the NFL is hopeful that by delaying the game two days, the Browns will restore enough players from the reserve/COVID-19 list to alleviate depth concerns on the roster. Even with the delay, Mayfield, who was placed on the list Wednesday as the result of a positive test, isn't a safe bet to clear the necessary protocols ahead of Monday's game. Neither is top backup Case Keenum after testing positive for the virus Thursday, so the Browns could turn to practice-squad call-up Nick Mullens to make a spot start in the event both Mayfield and Keenum aren't available.

Mayfield (reserve/COVID-19 list) and the Browns will reportedly no longer play the Raiders on Saturday, with the NFL expected to reschedule the game for Monday at 5 p.m. ET, pending official confirmation, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Due to ongoing COVID-19-related concerns within the Cleveland organization, the NFL is hopeful that by delaying the game two days, the Browns will restore enough players from the reserve/COVID-19 list to alleviate depth concerns on the roster. Even with the delay, Mayfield, who was placed on the list Wednesday as the result of a positive test, isn't a safe bet to clear the necessary protocols ahead of Monday's game. Neither is top backup Case Keenum after testing positive for the virus Thursday, so the Browns could turn to practice-squad call-up Nick Mullens to make a spot start in the event Mayfield and Keenum aren't available.

Mayfield (illness) tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Mayfield's positive test for coronavirus comes the same day as coach Kevin Stefanski's, and one day after the Browns placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including top wideout Jarvis Landry. Unless he can return two consecutive negative tests prior to Saturday's game against the Raiders, thus clearing the league's protocols, Mayfield will be unable to suit up Week 15. Cleveland does at least have a capable veteran backup on hand in Case Keenum, but with tackle Jedrick Wills and guard Wyatt Teller already on the COVID list, and Kareem Hunt (ankle) likely slated to miss at least one game, this could be an offense depleted of much of its top personnel versus Las Vegas.

Mayfield completed 22 of 32 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 24-22 win over the Ravens.

Mayfield also rushed six times for 14 yards and was briefly evaluated for a concussion prior to being cleared to return to action, Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reports. The signal-caller's touchdown passes came on consecutive drives during the first half, finding Jarvis Landry from nine yards before hitting Austin Hooper from one yard. Although he then threw an interception on the next series after his scores, Mayfield still did enough to lead Cleveland to a narrow victory. With a touchdown pass in five straight games, he'll now strive to extend his streak in Week 15 versus the Raiders.

Mayfield (shoulder/foot/groin) completed 18 of 37 pass attempts for 247 yards and a touchdown while losing a fumble in Sunday's 16-10 loss to the Ravens.

Mayfield continued his recent trend of poor play, as he now has four turnovers over his last three games while barely clearing a 50 percent completion rate during that span. The banged up quarterback clearly is not meeting the requirements for a starting fantasy option, but we also know that he isn't as bad as he's shown over this recent slump. Perhaps the upcoming bye week could help alleviate the multiple injuries Mayfield has been playin through, but he isn't worth rostering as a standard-league option in his current form.

Mayfield (shoulder/foot/groin) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield's banged up in multiple places, but his availability for this critical matchup isn't in any doubt after he managed to practice fully both Thursday and Friday. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Mayfield is feeling ready to go, both mentally and physically, heading into a crucial stretch consisting of two games against the Ravens sandwiched around a bye.

Mayfield (shoulder/knee/groin/foot) was listed as a full participant on Thursday's injury report, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mayfield didn't take part in Wednesday's practice session after participating in a morning walkthrough, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. Coach Kevin Stefanski has confirmed that the 26-year-old will start Sunday against the Ravens as long as he's cleared to play. The quarterback has dealt with a shoulder issue since Week 2 and is also managing a groin issue ahead of Week 12, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield (shoulder/knee/foot) participated in a morning walkthrough but isn't practicing Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

It sounds like Mayfield took part in the walkthrough and observed position drills before heading back inside or off to a side field. Coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged Monday that Mayfield's trio of injuries likely impacted his performance in Sunday's 13-10 win over Detroit, but the Browns hope to have their starting quarterback ready for Sunday's game in Baltimore. Stefanski said Mayfield will get the start as long as he's deemed healthy enough to play.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (knee/foot/shoulder) will start versus Baltimore in Week 12 as long as he's physically cleared to play, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mayfield was listed with a trio of injuries prior to suiting up versus the Lions in Week 11, and though he turned in a mistake-prone performance with two turnovers against an exploitable secondary, the 26-year-old did do enough to lead his team to a victory. Stefanski said Mayfield's foot and knee injuries may have been a factor in his performance versus Detroit, per Petrak, and it looks like the Browns will take a close look at the quarterback in practice before making a decision about his availability. Case Keenum would be in line to start if Mayfield misses any more time.

Mayfield completed 15 of his 29 pass attempts for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 13-10 win over Detroit.

Mayfield was intercepted early in the first quarter and again in the fourth to mark the first time he's thrown multiple picks in a game this season. He offset that slightly with a five-yard touchdown pass to Nick Chubb late in the second quarter. Though Mayfield averaged only 6.1 yards per attempt, he connected on four passes that went for gains of 20 yards or more. Mayfield has openly acknowledged that he is playing through a number of injuries that are likely to affect his performance both for a Week 12 matchup against Baltimore and for the rest of the campaign, so there isn't much reason to project major improvement in his results.

Mayfield (knee/foot/shoulder) doesn't carry a Week 11 injury designation, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic and has been confirmed as the Browns' starting QB for Sunday's game against the Lions.

While it's clear that Mayfield is banged up at this stage of the season and thus at risk of an in-game setback, he'll continue to tough things out this weekend against an 0-8-1 Detroit squad. Though wideout Anthony Schwartz (concussion) has been ruled out and Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin) is listed as questionable by the team, Cleveland's Week 11 offense as a whole will be bolstered by the return of top back Nick Chubb, who had been on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Mayfield (knee/foot/shoulder) logged a limited practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield, who's dealing with three listed injury issues, acknowledged earlier this week that he's pretty banged up at this stage, but coach Kevin Stefanski has expressed optimism that the QB will be able to play Sunday against the Lions, per Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Friday's injury report will clarify whether Mayfield heads into the weekend fully cleared to play or carrying a Week 11 injury designation.

Mayfield (knee/foot/shoulder) is taking part in practice Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield was held out of Wednesday's session while he contends with three different injuries, with a bruised right knee being the newest of his concerns. Though Mayfield admitted that he's more banged up than he has been at any point in his career, his ability to return to practice Thursday suggests he's on track to tough it out through the injuries during Sunday's game against the Lions. The Browns will release their second practice report of Week 11 later Thursday, when it will be known whether Mayfield was a limited or full participant.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski is confident Mayfield (shoulder, knee, foot) will play Sunday against Detroit, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Both Mayfield and Stefanski expressed optimism that the quarterback will play Sunday despite being a non-participant at Wednesday's practice. Mayfield told Ulrich that his knee went "numb" after getting hit in Week 10's loss to New England. That sensation has since gone away, but Mayfield moved slowly when walking to the podium to address the media Wednesday. That play knocked him out of the New England game and made him questionable for Week 11 against the Lions.

Mayfield (left shoulder, foot, knee) won't practice Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The fact that the signal-caller won't practice Wednesday is no surprise, with Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer relaying that Mayfield has acknowledged that this is the most banged up he's been in his career. That said, the Browns' top QB plans to play against the Lions on Sunday, though we'd still expect him to head into the weekend with an official 'questionable' Week 11 injury tag.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (knee) is "day-to-day" but "feeling good about where he is this morning," Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield, who is already dealing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, was forced out of Sunday's loss to the Patriots due to a right knee injury. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 73 yards with a TD and an interception before being replaced by Case Keenum. X-rays undergone after Sunday's loss revealed that Mayfield didn't suffer any structural damage, and Stefanski said he expects him to be available Week 11 versus the Lions, but a final decision won't be made until the Browns have evaluated what the quarterback is able to do in practice.

An X-Ray on Mayfield's right knee revealed no structural damage, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal,coach Kevin Stefanski expects Mayfield to be able to play next weekend against the Lions. That said, the signal-caller (who has been dealing with left shoulder and foot issues) acknowledged after Sunday's 45-7 loss to the Patriots that he's pretty banged up and will take things day-by-day in terms of his Week 11 status.

Mayfield was forced out of Sunday's game against the Patriots with a knee issue, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Prior to being replaced by Case Keenum, Mayfield had completed 11 of 21 passes for 73 yards with a TD and a pick. Per Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, it looked like Mayfield could have returned to the contest, but with the Browns down big, it looks like Keenum will close things out. Mayfield, who has been managing left shoulder and foot issues of late, will almost assuredly be listed on his team's injury report ahead of next weekend's game against the Lions.

Mayfield (foot/left shoulder) practiced fully Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

In addition to the left (non-throwing) shoulder injury Mayfield has been managing, the QB is dealing with a sore foot, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mayfield's return to a full practice Thursday puts him in line to play through the two issues Sunday against the Patriots, though there are questions surrounding his Week 10 supporting cast, with running backs Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Kareem Hunt (calf) still on IR and the Browns having officially moved on from wideout Odell Beckham.

Mayfield (foot/left shoulder) was limited at practice Wednesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield, who continues to manage a left (non-throwing) shoulder issue, indicated Wednesday that his listed foot injury "is nothing major by any means." With that in mind, Jackson suggests that Mayfield's limitations were maintenance-related. In any case, it would surprise us if the QB wasn't available for Sunday's game against the Patriots, but who Mayfield might be handing off to is up in the air, with running backs Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Kareem Hunt (calf) still on IR.

Mayfield completed 14 of 21 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 41-16 win over the Bengals.

After a pick-six and a rushing touchdown put the Browns up 14-7, Mayfield made his imprint on the action with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones, who will likely be his top downfield target moving forward with Cleveland parting ways with Odell Beckham. The defense and running game continued to lead the way, but Mayfield managed to pad his stats with an 18-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku after the Browns had already put the game out of reach. Mayfield has only eclipsed 250 passing yards twice this season in the run-first Browns offense, and he'll continue to work as a game manager against the Patriots in Week 10.

Mayfield absorbed a few hits Sunday that bothered his left non-throwing shoulder but no setbacks, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield sustained a completely torn labrum in his left shoulder Week 2, then weeks later it was reported he had fractured the humerus bone in the same shoulder. "I felt a couple, but no setbacks, so that was one positive for me looking at this," the quarterback responded when asked about getting hit in the shoulder following Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Steelers. "Just have to get it corrected and continue to rehab and do all of that." The Browns' passing offense misfired on several occasions, including a few key drops and a fumble. There's also the curious case of Odell Beckham, who had one official target among 43 snaps and 29 routes ran during the game. The passing game was a point of focus for head coach Kevin Stefanski, who told Ridenour the team needs to address the passing attack, which ranks 26th in yards per game and tied for 30th with seven passing touchdowns.

Mayfield completed 20 of 31 passes for 225 yards in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Steelers. He also gained five yards on his only carry.

In a tough defensive battle, the Browns couldn't get their ground game going, and while Mayfield was reasonably efficient and didn't commit any turnovers, he couldn't come up with a big play when Cleveland needed one. The fourth-year QB has tossed one touchdown or fewer in five of his seven starts this season, but he may need to be more productive in Week 9 against the high-powered Bengals.

Mayfield (shoulder) will start Sunday's game against the Steelers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Mayfield -- who does not carry a Week 8 injury designation -- received medical clearance to play Thursday night, setting the stage for him to return to action following a one-game absence. The QB will need to continue to manage his left (non-throwing) issue as the season rolls along, and there's always the chance that he could suffer a setback, but the time off afforded by Mayfield sitting out Week 7 action has allowed him to return to Cleveland's starting lineup against the 3-3 Steelers, who are allowing an average of 244.7 passing yards per game to date.

Mayfield (shoulder) is participating at Friday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mayfield hasn't shown any obvious at Friday's session after working as a limited participate Wednesday and Thursday. The 26-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction for Sunday's matchup with the Steelers, though it won't be surprising if he's still officially listed as questionable.

Mayfield (shoulder) remained limited at practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, Mayfield indicated that his left (non-throwing) shoulder is feeling better after sitting out last Thursday's game against the Broncos. With back-to-back limited practices now in the books, the QB is trending in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Steelers approaches, though it still seems likely Mayfield will carry a Week 8 injury designation into the contest.

Mayfield (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Ulrich adds that Mayfield looked comfortable during the open portion of practice, though he was mostly limited to throwing short passes while sporting a new harness over his injured left shoulder. Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram agrees that Mayfield looked fine, while Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer suggests the QB is on track to start Sunday's game against the Steelers if he makes it through the next few days of practice without any setbacks. For his part, Mayfield said Wednesday that he's "completely confident" he'll rejoin the lineup soon and then finish out the season, though he didn't necessarily commit to Week 8, per Petrak.

Mayfield noted Wednesday that there's a "noticeable difference" in how his shoulder feels this week, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

With his non-throwing shoulder on the mend after sitting out the Browns' win over the Broncos last Thursday, Mayfield indicated there's "absolutely" a chance that he can play Sunday against the Steelers. We'll circle back on the QB's status later Wednesday, once his level of practice participation is listed by the team.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (shoulder) didn't participate in practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Stefanski isn't yet sure whether Mayfield will be able to return to practice Wednesday, but he hasn't yet been ruled out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old missed Thursday's win over the Broncos due to a complete labrum tear in his non-throwing shoulder, but he's remained hopeful that he'll be able to play through the injury in 2021. Case Keenum will draw another start if Mayfield remains out in Week 8.

Mayfield (shoulder) is not present at the start of Monday's practice, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Kevin Stefanski left open the possibility of Mayfield practicing Monday, but it looks like the quarterback isn't yet ready to resume handling on-field reps. Mayfield sat out last Thursday's win over the Broncos, as the team's medical staff didn't see fit for him to play through the the complete labrum tear in his non-throwing shoulder, in addition to a broken humerus. Though Mayfield is set to undergo surgery at some point, he's said he hopes to play through the injuries this season. That said, if Mayfield can't get back on the practice field soon, it will look more and more likely that Case Keenum draws a second start during Sunday's game against the Steelers.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Mayfield (shoulder) may be ready to practice Monday, but the decision will ultimately be made by team doctors, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. "I don't know the exact answer to that," Stefanski said, when asked if another week of rest would make a significant difference in the health of Mayfield's left shoulder. "I would just tell you we're going to continue to listen to the medical staff on this, and when he's ready, he's ready."

Mayfield saw his streak of 51 consecutive regular-season starts come to an end in Thursday's 17-14 win over the Broncos, after the Browns' medical staff determine it was best for Mayfield not to play through the complete labrum tear in non-throwing shoulder on a short week. Additionally, Mayfield disclosed to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports that he's tending to a fractured humerus bone, which has prevented him from getting full range of motion in the shoulder. Before being ruled out of the Week 7 contest, Mayfield took all the first-team reps in Tuesday's practice, but the inflammation in his shoulder didn't subside as the medical staff had hoped. With that in mind, Mayfield's ability to return to practice next week will likely hinge on how much the inflammation has dissipated following a few extra days of rest. Mayfield is eventually headed for surgery on the shoulder, but in the meantime, he's hopeful to play through the injury for the rest of the season. Next up for the Browns is an Oct. 31 home game against the

In addition to a completely torn labrum in his left shoulder, Mayfield has been diagnosed with a fractured humerus bone, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.

Mayfield suffered what was termed at the time a partially torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, but he revealed earlier this week that it's a complete tear. The issue became noteworthy when he aggravated it this past Sunday against the Cardinals, and now the true extent of the injury is known. Mayfield further told Glazer, "I need that fracture to heal for me to get back out there." It's unclear if this means Mayfield is due for a multi-game absence while he rehabs and recovers, but the Browns will turn over the offense to Case Keenum for at least one contest Thursday versus the Broncos.

Mayfield, who has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Broncos, is require offseason surgery to repair a complete labrum tear of his left (non-throwing) shoulder, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield sustained the injury in the Browns' Week 2 win over the Texans and was initially adamant that he not only wouldn't miss any time because of the shoulder issue, but that he would also avoid surgery. The tone has since shifted after Mayfield aggravated the injury in the Week 6 loss to the Cardinals, as Mayfield will now see his streak of 51 consecutive regular-season starts come to an end Thursday, with Case Keenum stepping in under center. The Browns are still hopeful that Mayfield will be ready to go for their Week 8 game against the Steelers on Oct. 31 and be able to play effectively with the injury for the rest of the season, but any further damage to the shoulder could jeopardize those plans. Regardless, Mayfield is eventually expected to need a procedure to address the injury, so at the very least, he'll likely be limited in his workouts at the start of the offseason.

Though Mayfield (left shoulder) won't start Thursday night's game against the Broncos, he could be available for the Browns' Oct. 31 contest against the Steelers, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

The report notes the QB's potential return to action in Week 8 hinges on the inflammation in his non-throwing shoulder going down. With Mayfield having been advised by team doctors to not push things this week, Case Keenum will draw the start at QB for Cleveland on Thursday versus Denver, with Nick Mullens in line to be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the team's backup.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Mayfield (shoulder) won't start Thursday's game against the Broncos, with Case Keenum instead drawing the nod at quarterback, Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Though Mayfield was adamant that he could play Thursday despite tending to a complete labrum tear in his left (non-throwing shoulder), the quick turnaround for the Week 7 contest ultimately prompted the Browns to err on the side of caution with the 26-year-old on the advice of doctors. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Mayfield will now shift his focus to rehabbing over the next few days with the hope of demonstrating enough progress to play Week 8 against the Steelers on Oct. 31, but Keenum will step in Thursday for his first start since 2019, when he was a member of Washington. Mayfield, meanwhile, will see his streak of 51 consecutive regular-season starts come to an end. Expect Cleveland to elevate Nick Mullens from the practice squad to back up Keenum and formally rule Mayfield out for Week 7 with the release of Wednesday's practice report.

Mayfield (left shoulder) was limited at Tuesday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

As expected, Mayfield upped his activity level from none Monday to some Tuesday. He's doing it all through a painful injury to his non-throwing shoulder that he revealed to be a completely torn labrum, which he sustained Week 2, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. After aggravating it this past Sunday versus the Cardinals, Mayfield is in worse shape this time around, but he's doing everything possible to be available Thursday against the Broncos. Wednesday's injury report could clear up the situation, or the Browns could wait until 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff to make a decision on his status for Week 7. If Mayfield doesn't go, Case Keenum will earn a spot start.

Coach Kevin Stefanski expects Mayfield (left shoulder) to practice in a limited capacity Tuesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Earlier Tuesday, Mayfield was unsure whether he'd fit in any work after being listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report, per Ulrich. Mayfield later got into some specifics regarding his health, telling Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer that he's been playing through a completely torn labrum since dislocating his non-throwing shoulder back in Week 2, and that the issue is worse this time around. While a return to practice Tuesday would put him in a better spot to uphold his belief that he'll play Thursday against the Broncos, the Browns could very well take a decision on his Week 7 availability down to the wire. Case Keenum is on hand if Mayfield is unable to go.

Mayfield (left shoulder) isn't certain whether he'll practice Tuesday, but he expects to suit up Thursday against the Broncos, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield has been tending to an injury in his left non-throwing shoulder since Week 2, an issue that he aggravated this past Sunday against the Cardinals. The Browns are getting a second opinion on the issue, but Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports that Mayfield's status is more "TBD" than the quarterback himself expressed. Fortunately for Mayfield, the Browns believe the partially torn labrum on his shoulder isn't structurally worse than it was prior to getting taken down by Arizona's J.J. Watt on a strip sack, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. It remains to be seen if Mayfield will join his teammates on the practice field Tuesday, but any activity there would bode well for his availability for Thursday's game.

The Browns list Mayfield (shoulder) as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Cleveland didn't hold an actual practice one day after the team's 37-14 loss to the Cardinals, but Mayfield wouldn't have been available to take the field after aggravating the partially torn labrun in his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the blowout. Though Mayfield expressed confidence he'll be ready to play Thursday night against the Broncos, head coach Kevin Stefanski wasn't yet ready to declare the 26-year-old ready to go for the quick turnaround Week 7. Case Keenum will stay prepared to start under center in the event Mayfield can't go versus Denver.

Mayfield (shoulder) underwent an MRI on Monday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield said Sunday that he expects to play Thursday against the Broncos after he aggravated his shoulder injury in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. However, coach Kevin Stefanski is waiting on the results of the quarterback's MRI before determining whether the 26-year-old will be able to suit up. If Mayfield is held out against Denver, Case Keenum would take over in the primetime matchup.

Mayfield (shoulder) expects to play in Thursday's game against the Broncos, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mayfield initially hurt his left shoulder Week 2 and has been wearing a harness ever since to protect a partially torn labrum. He then injured the shoulder again during Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Cardinals, though he initially stayed in the game despite being down on the field for some time. Mayfield eventually was pulled for Case Keenum once the game got out of hand, and while the Browns' starting QB has acknowledged his injury is painful, he apparently plans to continue playing through it Thursday night against Denver.

Mayfield's left arm was in a sling after Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Cardinals, Jake Trotter of ESPN reports. He injured his left shoulder during the game but was able to keep playing.

Mayfield completed 19 of 28 passes for 234 yards, two touchdowns and in interception while adding eight yards on three rushing attempts. Case Keenum replaced him late once the game was out of hand, but Mayfield was previously able to play through the injury, which bodes well for his potential availability against the Broncos on Thursday.

Mayfield suffered a partially torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the Browns' Sept. 19 win over the Texans, but he's expected to avoid surgery for the time being and isn't at risk of missing any game action, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Not only has Mayfield played all but five snaps -- three of which were Case Keenum kneel downs -- in Cleveland's two games since suffering the injury, but he's also handled every rep with the first-team offense in the Browns' subsequent practices. With that in mind, fantasy managers shouldn't look to dramatically their expectations for Mayfield moving forward, even while he continues to play with a harness on the shoulder. Per Rapoport, Mayfield said playing with the harness had no affect on his poor showing in the Browns' 14-7 win over the Vikings last Sunday, when he completed only 15 of 33 attempts for 155 yards. Mayfield could still opt for offseason surgery if the shoulder doesn't heal while he continues to play through the injury.

Mayfield's left (non-throwing) shoulder was not a factor in his poor games against the Vikings on Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

This report echoes what Mayfield said following the game, in which he completed 15 of 33 attempts for 155 yards and had a 59.5 quarterback rating, the fourth-lowest of his career. Mayfield dislocated his left shoulder during Week 2's win over the Texans, had it popped back into place, and has not appeared on the injury report since. The inaccurate performance came out of nowhere and may be attributed to an off game any quarterback can have.

Mayfield completed 15 of 33 passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Browns' 14-7 win over the Vikings on Sunday. He also rushed twice for 11 yards.

Mayfield had experienced some accuracy issues early in the Week 3 win over the Bears before hitting his stride, but he never quite settled down for any extended stretch Sunday. A remarkable defensive effort and another strong game from the Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt backfield duo helped the Browns get by with another victory anyhow, but Mayfield's play, which included a paltry average of 4.7 yards per attempt, left plenty to be desired. His ball-placement issues were best exemplified on the afternoon by a missed connection with Odell Beckham on what would have been a sure touchdown late and significantly burnished the fantasy production of both players for the day. Mayfield will look to allay concerns that he's experiencing regression after an impressive 2020 season under Kevin Stefanski's scheme when he takes on a tough Chargers defense on the road in Week 5.

Mayfield completed 19 of 31 passes for 246 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Browns' 26-6 win over the Bears on Sunday. He also rushed four times for 31 yards.

While Mayfield's final numbers were certainly acceptable from a fantasy perspective and he didn't commit any turnovers, his actual on-field performance left something to be desired, particularly early, when he looked to be a bit wild high with some throws. Mayfield did settle in as the game went on despite taking five sacks from an aggressive Bears front, and he flashed solid chemistry with the debuting Odell Beckham (knee), who he connected with on five occasions and targeted nine times overall. The absence of trusted Jarvis Landry (IR-knee) may have certainly contributed to some of Mayfield's early struggles, and he'll look to put together a more even performance versus the vulnerable Vikings in a Week 4 road matchup.

Mayfield (left shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Though Mayfield hurt his non-throwing shoulder during Week 2 action while trying to make a tackle, the QB's status for Sunday's game against the Bears is not in question. Who he'll be throwing to this weekend is TBD, however, with Jarvis Landry (MCL sprain) now on IR and Odell Beckham's (knee) Week 3 status yet to be clarified.

Mayfield (shoulder) underwent an MRI on Monday, the results of which indicated no structural damage, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Both Mayfield and head coach Kevin Stefanski downplayed the injury while acknowledging the blow Mayfield took had an impact. He's been diagnosed with an MCL sprain to his left, non-throwing shoulder. It would not be surprising to see Mayfield limited during practice sessions this week in preparation for Week 3's home game against the 0-2 Bears.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (shoulder) is "sore, but fine," Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield was briefly forced out of Sunday's 31-21 win over the Texans due to a left shoulder injury, but he nonetheless managed to retake the field and lead the Browns to a victory. The fourth-year quarterback also managed to overcome losing Jarvis Landry (knee) early in the first quarter. While Landry hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3 against Chicago, he has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain, making the reliable wideout's availability uncertain at best. Mayfield could be in for a rough time if he's forced to take on the Bears with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz and Rashard Higgins as his starting wideouts, though a capable tight end corps of Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant should help pick up slack in the receiving game. Additionally, it appears possible that Odell Beckham (knee) could be ready to make his season debut Week 3, though the Browns won't make a decision on that front until mid-week at least.

Mayfield completed 19 of 21 passes for 213 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Browns' 31-21 win over the Texans on Sunday. He also rushed eight times for 10 yards and another score and committed a fumble that was recovered by the offense.

Mayfield fought through plenty of adversity that his ultra-efficient stat line doesn't hint at, as he lost Jarvis Landry early in the first quarter with an MCL sprain and also fought through a left shoulder injury that head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed in his postgame press conference, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.com. Already without Odell Beckham (knee) entering the contest, Mayfield was forced to make due with a makeshift pass-catching corps that included the likes of Rashard Higgins, Harrison Bryant, Austin Hooper and rookie Demetric Felton among its most prominent pieces for the afternoon. Mayfield will hope to at least have Beckham in the fold for the first time this season in a Week 3 home interconference battle against the Bears.

Mayfield completed 21 of 28 passes for 321 yards with an interception in Sunday's 33-29 loss to Kansas City. He also gained seven yards on his only carry.

The Browns leaned heavily on their ground game, which didn't leave much scoring for Mayfield, but he still posted strong yardage while keeping the chains moving. His one turnover came at the worst possible time, however, as it ended Cleveland's final drive as the team attempted to drive for a winning TD inside the last three minutes. Mayfield should be at least as productive in Week 2 as the Browns host the Texans.

Mayfield completed six of 10 pass attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 19-10 preseason win over the Falcons.

Mayfield was one of a handful of starters to make their 2021 debuts in the Browns' final preseason tilt. The fourth-year quarterback did not have the assistance of his starting wideouts, but he still looked sharp in the pocket on the two drives he led to begin the game. Mayfield is hoping to have one of his top two targets, Odell Beckham (knee), back for the start of the regular season after the wideout suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 of the 2020 season. With a stable of playmakers and a solid offensive line, we could see yet another step forward for the budding signal-caller this year. Mayfield will get a chance to prove himself against the league's best when the Browns travel to Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 1 of the regular season.

Mayfield is slated to see action in Sunday's preseason finale against the Falcons, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Coach Kevin Stefanski noted Friday that the Browns will have "some select starters" -- including Mayfield -- play in the contest, but added "there are other guys we are going to hold out." With that in mind, it's unclear how many snaps Mayfield might take Sunday, but we suspect that Cleveland's starting QB won't see extended work versus Atlanta.

Mayfield won't play in Saturday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns return their head coach, offensive coordinator and starting QB from the previous season for the first time since 2007-08. They also kept all their other starters on offense, so coach Kevin Stefanski may prioritize health over in-game reps this preseason. Mayfield could still make an appearance in the second or third game, but for Saturday's opener he'll likely be joined on the sideline by other key starters.

Mayfield reiterated Wednesday that he's "not worried at all" about a contract extension, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

A strong finish to his third NFL season has Mayfield in position to ask for an extension, though he's under contract through 2022 after the Browns exercised a fifth-year option in April. The 26-year-old quarterback might even be more inclined to wait until next offseason for a new contract, thus betting on himself to have a big 2021 campaign as the frontman for a talented team. The Browns return all 11 starters on offense from last season, with WR Odell Beckham (knee) seemingly on track for Week 1 at Kansas City.

The Browns exercised Mayfield's fifth-year option worth $18.86 million for the 2022 season Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

It's not much of a surprise to see Cleveland pick up the option for the 26-year-old, which the team also did for teammate Denzel Ward. Mayfield helped the Browns secure their first playoff victory in 26 years last season after completing 63 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions while also rushing for 165 yards and one touchdown in 16 games.

Mayfield completed 23 of 37 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round. He added 11 yards on three rushing attempts.

Mayfield failed to lead the offense into the end zone in the first half, then threw an interception on the first possession after halftime. He bounced back with a four-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry to cut Kansas City's lead to 19-10, then led another touchdown drive early in the fourth to make it a one-possession game. The Browns got the ball again down five in the fourth quarter but produced just 12 yards over seven plays, and the Chiefs were able to run out the clock after Cleveland punted. Mayfield went through a sophomore slump after a promising rookie season, but he bounced back with the best season of his young career this year, throwing a career-low eight interceptions and, more importantly, notching the first Browns playoff win in 26 years. His yardage totals will likely remain modest moving forward in Cleveland's run-first offense, but Baker has eliminated any doubts about whether he can be the guy to lead the team under center.

Mayfield completed 21 of 34 pass attempts for 263 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions during Sunday's 48-37 wild-card win against the Steelers.

Cleveland entered Sunday night without a playoff win since Jan. 1, 1995, three and a half months before Mayfield was born. Having led the Browns to their best win total since that same 1994-1995 campaign, Mayfield entered the postseason with just one interception committed over his past eight starts. Boosted by a pair of takeaways and a TD from his defense within the first five minutes of regulation, Mayfield found Jarvis Landry for a 40-yard third-down score on the Browns' opening offensive drive. The explosive start would only continue from there, as Cleveland set an NFL playoff record for the most first-half points by a road team with 35. Pittsburgh fought its way back into the game with a 13-0 third-quarter run, but Mayfield led the Browns on a trio of scoring drives in the final frame to secure his first career playoff victory. Next is a road trip to take on the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs and a Kansas City defense that contained opponents to 224.2 passing yards per game over its final five outin

Mayfield completed of 17 of 27 pass attempts for 196 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the Browns' Week 17 victory over the Steelers. He added six rushes for 44 yards on the ground.

With the victory, Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002. Playing with the lead for most of the game, Mayfield took to the air only 27 times and connected with his receivers mostly in the short areas of the field. However, he did manage a few big plays, including a 42-yard completion to Rashard Higgins. Mayfield also made a few key plays with his legs, including a 25-yard scramble and game-clinching three-yard run on a designed play. After throwing seven interceptions in the team's first seven games, Mayfield has thrown only one pick in his last nine starts. He'll now look to lead the team to their first playoff victory since rejoining the league in 1999.

Mayfield and the Browns will not have to face Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt or Cameron Heyward in Week 17, Nate Ulrich of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield gets a Week 17 break in avoiding Watt, a three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, and Heyward, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, which was first reported by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Additionally, Cleveland activated Mayfield's top four wideouts from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, so Mayfield will have Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge available.

Mayfield completed 28 of 53 passes for 285 yards without a touchdown or interception in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Jets. He added three carries for six yards and fumbled three times, losing two.

Working without his top four wide receivers, Mayfield threw just two of his 24 first-half passes to the position, finishing the half with 124 yards, a fumble and a 13-3 deficit. He moved the offense better in the second half but failed to throw a touchdown after posting a 10:1 TD:INT over the previous four games. Mayfield fumbled two more times in the fourth quarter, and while the last one was recovered by teammate Kareem Hunt, that play resulted in a turnover on downs to snuff out Cleveland's comeback hopes in the final minutes. Assuming wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins are able to come off the reserve/COVID-19 list in time for the Browns' Week 17 matchup with the Steelers, Mayfield should have more weapons to work with as he tries to nail down his first career playoff berth.

Mayfield will be without his top four wide receivers Sunday against the Jets after the Browns placed Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge on the reserve/COVID-19 list

All four players were deemed to be high-risk close contacts, leaving Marvin Hall and practice-squad callups Ja'Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies as the Browns' available wide receivers. With such a depleted receiving corps, that may just mean more targets for the likes of Austin Hooper, Kareem Hunt and even Nick Chubb. In any case, Mayfield seems poised to dink and dunk and unlikely to take many deep shots Sunday.

Mayfield completed 27 of 32 pass attempts for 297 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-6 victory over the Giants.

Mayfield was nearly flawless under the bright lights, only missing six passes and committing zero turnovers. The 25-year-old was probably relieved to have a comfortable victory after a tumultuous Week 14 barnburner that saw the Browns lose in the closing seconds of a divisional matchup. Mayfield has been playing out of his mind recently, scoring nine touchdowns (one rushing) while throwing just one interception and averaging over 300 yards per game over the last four weeks. Those are top 10 fantasy quarterback numbers, and fantasy managers may have to treat the third-year signal caller as such until he cools off. Next week's opponent, the New York Jets, don't pose a huge threat to Mayfield's hot streak, even though the team just picked up its first victory of the season Sunday.

Mayfield's 96.6 quarterback rating ranks 12th in the NFL, 10 spots higher than where he was two weeks ago, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield cites the Week 9 bye as the turning point in his season. After eight weeks, Mayfield had a 90.9 rating, but in the five games since the break, he's averaged a 105.0 rating (113.5 the last three games). He and the coaches evaluated the offense and discussed ways to restore the quarterback's confidence during the bye week. "Baker is obviously playing at a high level,'' Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He doesn't lack confidence, and I say that in a good way. You want the trigger man to be playing freely and with confidence, and I see that with Baker." The coach implemented plays designed to bring the Oklahoma Baker back, such as more play-action, keepers and shotgun formations. Mayfield looks to keep the second-half momentum rolling Week 15 in New York against the Giants' 17th-ranked pass defense.

Mayfield completed 28 of 47 passes for 343 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Monday night's 47-42 loss to the Ravens. He also rushed five times for 23 yards and another score.

Mayfield relied on his running game early on, with tailback Nick Chubb scoring twice before halftime. Then, after throwing what seemed to be a back-breaking interception toward the end of the third quarter, Mayfield immediately elevated his game, responding with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with him throwing a 21-yard touchdown to Rashard Higgins on fourth down. Mayfield then ran in from five yards on third-and-goal to cap his subsequent drive, before finding Kareem Hunt for a game-tying, 22-yard touchdown with just over a minute remaining on his next one. Although that still wasn't enough to secure the win, Mayfield was tremendous in the second half, racking up a season high in passing yards while posting his second straight game with three total touchdowns. That puts the signal-caller in great form ahead of Week 15's matchup against the Giants.

Mayfield completed 25 of 33 passes for 334 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 13 against the Titans.

Mayfield led the Browns to a touchdown on five of their first six offensive possessions, capping four of them with a touchdown toss. The most explosive of the scores was a 75-yard connection with Donovan Peoples-Jones deep down the right sideline, though he also found Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins for two and 17- yard touchdowns respectively. Also important has been Mayfield's ability to avoid mistakes, as he has now gone five consecutive games and 156 pass attempts without throwing an interception. He'll look to keep his positive play going in Week 14 in a tough matchup against the Ravens.

Mayfield has thrown 123 consecutive passes without an interception, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield has taken heat for missed throws this season, including in last week's win over the Jaguars, but the third-year quarterback has avoided turnovers in the last four games. "He made four, five, six different throws in [the Jacksonville] game that were big-time throws, tight windows, down the field with great accuracy," offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. "I would gladly take a 5-yard gain over a 20-yard chance of an interception. I think that's the mindset we have to take." Cleveland's success this season is largely attributable to its ground game, which means Mayfield isn't required to take chances. That approach not only limits the picks, but it also led to Mayfield averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game (191.6).

Mayfield completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 258 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 12 against the Jaguars.

Mayfield experienced an unexpected spike in volume, recording his highest pass-attempt total since Week 5. He was also efficient, as he averaged 8.9 yards per attempt to surpass 250 yards for only the second time on the campaign. Mayfield showed particular rapport with Jarvis Landry, connecting for three plays of 20 or more yards as well as a five-yard first quarter touchdown. He'll like be required to move the Browns offense efficiently once again to keep pace with the Titans in Week 13.

Mayfield completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 204 yards and carried six times for nine yards during Sunday's 22-17 win over the Eagles.

Mayfield averaged a healthy 9.3 yards per attempt but took a backseat to the run game for much of the day due to more bad weather in Cleveland. This lackluster passing output was actually his highest in three games after he averaged just 127 yards over his previous two, giving a clear picture of the state of the Browns offense at this point. Most importantly, Mayfield has led his team to a 7-3 record with three wins in the last four games and will likely catch a break in light of this, despite his poor recent production. He will enjoy a favorable matchup against the Jaguars next Sunday but his team figures to continue with its run-heavy approach against an inferior opponent.

Mayfield and the Browns face several challenges in preparation for Week 11 against the Eagles, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield hasn't been pressured much the last two games, but the 11th-ranked Eagles' defense are third in the NLF with 31 sacks, five behind the league-leading Steelers, who sacked Mayfield four times in a 38-7 loss Week 6. Additionally, Mayfield hasn't fared well against pressure in 2020. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranks 38th with a 30.8 rating against pressure. Part of the problem is Mayfield holds the ball too long and his time in the pocket. He's 38th in the NFL in average time to throw (2.83 seconds) and pocket time (3.01). One more challenge for the Browns' quarterback is starting right tackle Jack Conklin being placed on the reserved/COVID-19 list. The obvious workaround for the Browns, who rank fourth in rushing, is putting the ball in the hands of running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt against Philadelphia's 26th-ranked run defense.

Mayfield completed 12 of 20 passes for 132 yards and rushed three times for one yard in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Texans.

Mayfield served as a game manager with Cleveland going run-heavy in Nick Chubb's (knee) first action since Week 4. Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 38 rushing attempts, and Chubb scored the team's lone touchdown on a windy, rainy day. With 132 or fewer passing yards in three of his last four games, Mayfield will be tough to trust against the visiting Eagles in Week 11.

Mayfield (undisclosed) could be able to gain clearance from the reserve/COVID-19 list in time to practice Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield's placement on the COVID-19 list came as a result of being in close proximity with an infected staff member, rather than as a result of testing positive himself, so it's possible that he could be back on the field for Wednesday's practice. Such a quick turnaround would of course require Mayfield to continue testing negative and remain asymptomatic, but it would certainly be beneficial for the third-year quarterback to get in a normal three-day practice week ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Texans.

The Browns placed Mayfield on the reserve/COVID-19 list Sunday after he came into close contact with a staff member that tested positive for the coronavirus.

Fortunately for Mayfield and the Browns, the quarterback is currently COVID-19 negative, and his placement on the list comes during a bye week. Mayfield will immediately self-isolate, and assuming he continues to test negative, he could be cleared to rejoin the Browns for their first Week 10 practice Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Case Keenum is the next man up at quarterback in the event Mayfield can't gain clearance prior to the Browns' next game Nov. 15 versus the Texans.

Mayfield completed 12 of 25 pass attempts for 122 yards, adding six rushes for 29 yards during Sunday's 16-6 loss to Las Vegas.

Coming off a five-touchdown, 297-yard passing performance that earned Mayfield AFC Player of the Week honors last Sunday against the Bengals, his scoreless Week 8 effort against the Raiders' 31st-ranked scoring defense shows prevailing inconsistencies from the young signal-caller. The matchup was right for the 2018 No. 1 overall draft choice, but he was held under two touchdowns for the third time this season. As Mayfield goes, so does the Browns offense, as Cleveland has averaged 6.3 points per game in those three performances. Mayfield and the Browns now have a chance to reset over the bye before taking on Houston's porous defense Nov. 15.

Mayfield was absent from the Wednesday's injury report.

Mayfield was a daily entry on injury reports the last two weeks due to rib and chest injuries. The reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week enters Week 8 healthy, as the Browns prepare to face a Las Vegas defense that ranks 26th overall and 28th against the pass.

Mayfield will be forced to proceed without Odell Beckham (knee) for the rest of the 2020 season, as the 27-year-old wideout has been confirmed to have suffered a season-ending ACL tear, Josina Anderson of ESPN reports.

Mayfield rallied to lead the Browns to a 37-34 win over the Bengals on Sunday, in which he threw five touchdowns, but his first pass of the game -- an interception caught by Darius Phillips -- looms over the victory. Beckham suffered his season-ending knee injury while attempting to make a tackle on the play, and Mayfield will now have to proceed without the star wideout for the remainder of 2020. On the plus side, Mayfield appears to have established solid connection with Rashard Higgins, who had a team-high 110 receiving yards on six catches Sunday, and Donovan Peoples-Jones, who hauled in the game-winning touchdown versus Cincinnati. Higgins and Peoples-Jones both stand to join Jarvis Landry in three-receiver sets the rest of the way.

Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 297 yards, five touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 37-34 win over the Bengals. He also rushed once for minus-1 yard.

Mayfield's first throw was intercepted, and top wideout Odell Beckham injured his knee while trying to make the tackle on the play, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The quarterback didn't get his first completion until almost four minutes into the second quarter, when Mayfield found Jarvis Landry for a 28-yard gain on his sixth pass of the game, but that play started a career-high streak of 21 consecutive completions, which included four touchdowns. Two of those scores came to tight end Harrison Bryant, while David Njoku and Kareem Hunt were responsible for Mayfield's other two touchdowns. Mayfield's completion streak finally came to an end when he spiked the ball to stop the clock in the game's final minute, and he found Donovan Peoples-Jones for the game-winning 24-yard touchdown on the ensuing play. Considering Mayfield had a 10:6 TD:INT coming into this game and no more than two touchdown passes in any of Cleveland's first six games, it will be interesting to see whether he's able to carr

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged Mayfield is not 100 percent and is "pushing through" the ribs and chest injuries he suffered Week 5 against the Colts, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield was ineffective during a Week 6 loss to the Steelers, a performance that invited much speculation and second-guessing. He's thrown interceptions in four consecutive quarters and has a 64.7 rating over the previous two weeks. The Browns' coaching staff remains bullish on the quarterback, who needs to get through this week against the Bengals and Week 8 against the Raiders before a bye week gives him healing time.

Mayfield (chest) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The quarterback had been a limited participant Wednesday in the Browns' first Week 7 session, but coach Kevin Stefanski never expressed much concern that Mayfield's injury would sideline him Sunday in Cincinnati. Mayfield's ability to take every practice rep with the first-team offense Thursday confirms he'll be good to go this weekend, but the signal-caller may need a solid showing on the road to restore the faith of his fantasy managers. His efficiency has fallen off precipitously over the past three weeks, with Mayfield completing only 58.8 percent of his passes for 6.2 yards per attempt and a 5:4 TD:INT over that stretch. Mayfield has also taken seven sacks across those three games.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he has to be a better job of varying pre-snap counts for Mayfield (ribs/chest), Ellis L. Williams of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "Varying those snap counts. Not letting teams time it up. Getting the play in quickly so we can line up and are not up against the clock. Because that is one way to jump, for a defense, they are just staring at that play clock," said Stefanski.

Mayfield has come under a lot of scrutiny following last week's loss to the Steelers, and neither the quarterback nor the head coach would use Mayfield's injury as an excuse for his two interceptions, poor reads or predictable snap counts. Mayfield practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday, but he participated more this week than he did last week, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Mayfield (chest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield had to be preemptively removed from Sunday's blowout loss to the Steelers in order to avoid exacerbating his chest injury, but the Browns reportedly consider him on track to suit up at Cincinnati in Week 7. If the starting signal-caller is able to upgrade to practicing in full Thursday or Friday, any lingering doubts about his availability will dissipate.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (ribs) is expected to start against the Bengals on Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield was medically cleared to suit up against the Steelers in Week 6, but Stefanski opted to have him removed from action as a preemptive measure to avoid further injury, with the Browns down 31-7 at the time. Stefanski also said that he expects Mayfield to do more in practice this week than he did last, when he logged a 'LP/LP/FP' practice slate. Another official update on Mayfield's health may not come until the Browns officially resume practicing Wednesday, but barring any setbacks it looks as though he'll get an opportunity to bounce back against the Bengals' exploitable secondary.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski removed Mayfield (ribs) from Sunday's loss to the Steelers because the coach didn't want to see the quarterback take another hit, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "I just didn't want to see him get hit one more time, and I put that on myself,'' Stefanski said. He's a very, very tough player and I know he wants to fight, but it's a long season.''

Stefanski's remarks suggest Mayfield could have stayed in the game if it were competitive, but the coach removed him as a preventative measure with an eye toward the rest of the season. At the time, Cleveland was losing 31-7, and the offensive strategy was to throw, which exposed the quarterback to greater risk of getting hit. Stefanski vows to start Mayfield against Cincinnati in Week 7 if he's healthy, "and I think he will be," said the coach.

Mayfield was forced to exit the team's Week 6 loss to the Steelers with a rib injury, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. Prior to his exit, Mayfield completed 10 of 18 pass attempts for 119 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Mayfield injured his ribs in the Browns win over the Colts in Week 5. Although X-rays came back negative on the injury, he was limited in practice throughout the week. Varying reports emerged leading up to the Week 6 matchup regarding limiting his reps and altering the offensive game plan to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Even so, Mayfield was sacked four times and hit several times more prior to being pulled late in the third quarter. There is no clarity regarding Mayfield's status for the Browns Week 7 matchup against the Bengals.

The Browns will alter their game plan to protect Mayfield (chest), by having him get the ball out of his hands quicker, Fox's Jay Glazer reported on their Sunday morning pregame show.

This was already a difficult matchup for Mayfield even without an injury, but the injury combined with this game plan change makes it even more difficult to start him comfortably.

Mayfield (chest) is active Week 6 against the Steelers.

Mayfield logged two limited practice sessions this week before suiting up in full Friday, paving the way for his active status despite the designation of "questionable." He'll also have the services of top pass-catching weapons Odell Beckham (illness) and Jarvis Landry (ribs) on hand, which wasn't a guarantee just days ago given both were carrying the questionable tag as well. Mayfield and company will square off against a Pittsburgh defense that tends to bring pressure, but also one that finds itself in the middle of the pack in terms of average fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks through four games in standard scoring formats. In each of those contests, the opposing signal caller has tallied 21 or more fantasy points.

Mayfield (chest/ribs) is expected to start Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 25-year-old received the questionable tag after practicing as a full participant Friday, so it doesn't come as a major surprise he's expected to be under center come Sunday. Odell Beckham (illness) is clear of an injury designation and Jarvis Landry (ribs/hip) is questionable, so Mayfield may have his top wideouts while going up against a stout Pittsburgh pass rush.

Mayfield (chest/ribs) is officially questionable for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield reportedly looked good while throwing at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, during which he was a full participant after having begun the week with back-to-back limited sessions. The third-year quarterback has previously spoken as if he'll face the Steelers on Sunday, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Thursday that Mayfield is "trending in the right direction." Barring any setbacks, it currently looks as though Mayfield is on track for Sunday's divisional matchup. It's worth noting, though, that his top receivers Odell Beckham (illness) and Jarvis Landry (ribs) are also both questionable.

Mayfield (chest/ribs) remained limited at practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The report adds that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt relayed that the QB's sore ribs were feeling better and that he's "trending in the right direction" as Sunday's game against the Steelers approaches. Mayfield, who was slated to increase his throwing activity Thursday, has expressed his belief that he'll be ready this weekend, but if not, the Browns would turn to backup Case Keenum.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Mayfield (chest) could play, even if he doesn't get ample reps during the practice week leading up to Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "You get ready for Thursday night games with a very limited amount of full-speed team reps. I think every player is different and certainly every week is different," said the coach.

Mayfield suffered what was referred to as an injury to his ribs during last week's win over the Colts, but the quarterback was listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report with a chest injury. He was in full uniform and on the practice field Wednesday but did not throw during the portion of the practice open to the media. The team later released photos of Mayfield taking a snap from center JC Tretter. The Browns will likely run their usual run-heavy attack to limit Mayfield's exposure, but the Steelers enter the contest second in the NFL with just 64.0 rushing yards allowed per game.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said that Mayfield (ribs) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

While Mayfield acknowledged Wednesday that his "whole right side" is sore from a hit that he sustained in Week 5's win over the Colts, the QB has indicated that he's confident that he'll play Sunday against the Steelers.

Though Mayfield (ribs) noted that it hasn't been determined whether he'll practice Wednesday, the QB remains confident that he'll play Sunday against the Steelers, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield acknowledged Wednesday that his "whole right side" is sore heading into Week 6, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. While the QB is clearly feeling the effects of a hit he sustained in this past Sunday's win over the Colts and figures to have his practice reps impacted in the coming days, it's pretty clear that Mayfield intends to play through his aches and pains this weekend.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Mayfield (ribs) is still sore and will be monitored leading up to the Browns' Week 6 contest in Pittsburgh, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield's X-rays turned up negative after the conclusion of Sunday's win over the Colts, which would seem to confirm that he's avoided serious injury. He even was able to retake the field versus Indianapolis in the fourth quarter after briefly being examined on the sideline. Mayfield himself said that he doesn't consider his availability to be in question, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but the Browns will nonetheless closely evaluate how he holds up in practice.

Mayfield's ribs X-rays came back negative Sunday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mayfield spent time in the medical tent during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 32-23 win over the Colts, though he was ultimately able to retake the field, and his post-game X-rays now seem to confirm that he's escaped without a serious injury. The third-year signal-caller said himself that he'll be "ready" to suit up at Pittsburgh in Week 6, so even if he's limited at all when the Browns resume practicing, it won't be cause for much concern. Mayfield put up a season-high 247 passing yards in addition to two scores versus a stout Colts secondary Sunday, though a pair of interceptions somewhat detract from the luster of his performance.

Mayfield will undergo X-rays on his ribs due to a hit sustained during Sunday's 32-23 win over the Colts, during which threw two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield suffered his ribs injury due to a hit from Justin Houston, which caused him to throw his second pick of the night. He briefly spent time on the sideline in the injury tent late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately managed to return and finish out the contest. In all, Mayfield completed 21 of 37 pass attempts for 247 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball twice for 17 yards. With Mayfield at the helm, the Browns now boast a 4-1 record through five games for the first time since 1994.

Mayfield completed 19 of 30 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 49-38 win over the Cowboys.

Mayfield wasn't very effective with just 5.5 yards per attempt, but he didn't need to be, as Nick Chubb (knee) and Kareem Hunt were effective out of the backfield while Jarvis Landry performed some trickery on a touchdown pass to Odell Beckham, who also rushed for a touchdown. It's fair to discount this performance as going up against a putrid Cowboys defense, and a Week 5 matchup against the Colts will be a better test, especially with Chubb sidelined. The Colts rank first in the league with just 159 passing yards allowed per game.

Mayfield completed 16-of-23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3 against Washington.

Mayfield worked efficiently throughout the game, racking up a 117.3 passer rating. However, the Browns led for the majority of the contest, limiting his passing volume and leading to his lowest passing yardage total of the campaign. Despite that, the performance is encouraging for the Browns offense as a whole, as Mayfield has completed 70 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and an interception since the Week 1 debacle against Baltimore. Mayfield and the Browns may be forced to pick up their offensive pace in a Week 4 matchup against the Cowboys.

Mayfield completed 16 of 23 passes for 219 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Browns' 35-30 win over the Bengals on Thursday. He also rushed three times for six yards.

After a fairly dismal season-opening performance in a thorny matchup against the Ravens, Mayfield was set up nicely for a bounce-back effort in Week 2, considering the significant step down in competition. The oft-maligned quarterback mostly maximized his favorable circumstances, helping the Browns jump out to a 14-3 lead with the help of a 43-yard touchdown connection with Odell Beckham. Mayfield subsequently capped off another second-quarter scoring drive with a six-yard toss to Kareem Hunt, and although he did throw an early fourth-quarter interception, it came on a deep downfield throw into Bengals territory. The numbers Thursday weren't markedly different for Mayfield than his 189-yard, one-touchdown, one-interception performance against Baltimore, but the fact he went 7-for-9 when targeting his top duo of Beckham and Jarvis Landry offers reason for optimism. Mayfield will look to keep his momentum going in a Week 3 home date against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Mayfield completed 21 of 39 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Browns' 38-6 loss to the Ravens on Sunday. He also rushed twice for three yards.

For all the talk about a much more structured and likely efficient offense under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns and Mayfield disappointingly began the 2020 campaign looking like they did much of 2019 under one-and-done head man Freddie Kitchens. Mayfield's lackluster line was representative of the caliber of performance he put forth, and naturally, the quality of his opponent certainly had a part to play in his struggles as well. The third-year quarterback took two sacks overall and was able to connect with nine different pass-catchers overall, but he averaged a meager 4.8 yards per attempt. Mayfield and his teammates will look to regroup quickly, as another AFC North battle awaits Thursday night at home against the Bengals in Week 2.

Mayfield said he's feeling more comfortable in the new offense, May Kay Cabot and Joshua Gunter of the Cleveland Plain Dealer report.

The offensive unit struggled early in camp as the team adjusted to the new scheme installed by new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Now, after 11 days of practices, Mayfield is finding a comfort level. "The more plays we run in this camp to see what the identity is, we're starting to see what's working for us," the quarterback said following Thursday's practice. "I'm starting to feel way more comfortable. It's been great to go through installs for the first time and put everything under our belt for the first time. We're really starting to make progress, which needs to happen. We know the sense of urgency is at an all-time high." Mayfield also called out his building rapport with new tight ends Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant, about whom he said has a chance to be special.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Mayfield is the starting quarterback, Marla Ridnour of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

This is probably not surprising news, but the addition of free agent Case Keenum, who has history with Stefanski, caused some minor rumbling following Mayfield's 2019 season in which he threw nearly as many interceptions (21) as touchdowns (22). "I believe in Baker Mayfield, he's our starting quarterback. He's a young player that I think we've all seen glimpses of this kid being a really good player," Stefanski said. The offense in 2019 was dysfunctional under former head coach Freddie Kitchens, but Stefanski has made moves to change the attack in 2020. The addition of a fullback (Andy Janovich) and a second tight end (Austin Hooper) suggests a pivot from the wideout-focused offense of 2019.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Wednesday that he intends to zero in on improving Mayfield's footwork during the offseason, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Coming off a deflating sophomore season in which issues with accuracy and decision-making overshadowed Mayfield's occasional flash plays, Cleveland's top offseason priority will no doubt be to set the signal-caller up for better success in Year 3. Improved footwork technique could certainly assist in bolstering Mayfield's efficiency and mobility within the pocket, but the larger determining factor for his prosperity in 2020 will no doubt be how well he adapts in the system of Van Pelt and new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Of course, the 24-year-old will get the benefit of a full offseason to acclimate himself with Cleveland's new coaching regime, and there will be plenty of reason for optimism about Mayfield's chances of bouncing back as he returns to a talent-rich offensive situation.

Coach Freddie Kitchens indicated Monday that Mayfield should be fine this week despite the hand injury the QB suffered in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Steelers, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Kitchens added that Mayfield will practice throughout the week, though it's possible that the QB will be listed as a limited participant come Wednesday.

Mayfield headed to the locker room late in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Steelers with an apparent hand injury, Tom Reed of The Athletic reports.

Mayfield appeared to hit his hand or thumb on a helmet, per Pat McManamon of The Athletic, which let to the QB's exit from the contest. As, a result Garrett Gilbert finished up the second quarter in place of Mayfield.

Coach Freddie Kitchens indicated that Mayfield (hip) looked good at practice Monday after resting his hip injury during the Browns' bye week, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

We'll have to see if Mayfield ends up listed as a limited or full practice participant once the Browns' initial Week 8 injury/practice report is revealed, but the QB is in no danger of missing this coming Sunday's game against the Patriots. A bigger concern is that he'll be squaring off a top-shelf defense in that contest.

Mayfield, who was spotted with a heavy wrap on his right shoulder and was walking gingerly while sporting a sleeve on his left leg following Monday's loss to the 49ers, is not listed on the Browns' Week 6 injury report, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

It's not surprising that Mayfield was a little banged up coming out of Monday's 31-3 loss, with coach Freddie Kitchens acknowledging that his starting QB took "too many hits unnecessarily" in Week 5, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. With no listed injuries to contend with now, however, Mayfield can practice fully this week in the hopes of bouncing back Sunday against the 4-1 Seahawks, who have given up an average of 270.6 passing yards per game to date.

Mayfield (wrist) isn't listed on the initial injury report for Monday's game against the Jets, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Mayfield had tape over some fingers on his left hand during Thursday's practice, but he didn't show any visible issues with his throwing hand. The quarterback appears ready to go for Monday's game in New York, facing an injury-riddled Jets team that may have to play without ILB C.J. Mosley (groin) and DL Quinnen Williams (ankle). The Jets already ruled out QB Sam Darnold (illness) and also have RB Le'Veon Bell dealing with a shoulder injury.

Though Mayfield left the stadium Sunday with his right wrist wrapped, his injury is just a bruise, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Mayfield's issue is not considered serious, but there's a chance it could affect his practice participation next week as the Browns prepare for their Week 2 contest against the Jets next Monday.