BERIA, Ohio - Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will not play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday so that he can proceed with surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing left shoulder.
Browns coach Kevin Stefansky said Mayfield could undergo surgery this week. A league source told ESPN that Mayfield could return in time to participate in the OTAs, which usually take place around the league in May or June.
Mayfield, who has been battling a shoulder injury for two weeks, admitted after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night that he was "beaten up very badly." Mayfield was dismissed nine times in the game.
"When I wasn't healthy I continued to put it on the line and try to fight for my people," said Mayfield, playing with a harness over the shoulder to keep it from popping out of place. "It's time for me to start looking at what's in the best interest of me and my health."
The Browns (7-9) crashed out of the playoff race on Sunday when the Bengals won the AFC North Division title. Mayfield, who last season quarterbacked Cleveland to their first playoff win in 26 years, since battling a shoulder injury, is ranked 26th in the league in the QBR (35.2).
On Monday, he became the first NFL quarterback to throw 10 consecutive imperfections since 2019, and has been dismissed at least five times since 2017 and batted five passes over the line of scrimmage in a single game.
On Tuesday, Stefanski acknowledged that a shoulder injury and harness had affected Mayfield's performance this season, but he had no regrets about not being given an extended rest to recover.
"Throughout this whole thing, we've tried to make the right decisions based on all the information we have," Stefansky said. "The constant conversations we had with our medical staff, with Baker and throughout, have really made me feel comfortable based on all the information he was able to play up to."
Mayfield is under contract with Cleveland through the 2022 season, with the Browns already exercising a fifth-year option on his rookie deal.