NFL: Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was not present at Monday’s training

BEREA, Ohio — Baker Mayfield isn’t healthy enough to practice yet, and he might not be ready to play either.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback did not practice Monday due to a shoulder injury and early signs suggest Mayfield will not play this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mayfield is struggling with a torn labrum and a broken left shoulder. He didn’t play Thursday, when the Browns and backup quarterback Case Keenum defeated the Denver Broncos.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t provide any updates on Mayfield’s condition other than that he was “feeling better.”

Stefanski wouldn’t say if the Browns would consider placing Mayfield on the injured reserve. If so, he would miss at least three games.

Stefanski still hasn’t scratched Mayfield from the roster for the game against the Steelers (3-3), who are returning from a week off. He added that facing the Steelers’ solid defense was not going to impact his decision on Mayfield’s return to play.

“We are going to trust the medical staff,” Stefanski explained.

Last week, a magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a fracture to Mayfield’s humerus – a long bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow.

The 26-year-old Mayfield once struggled with a torn labrum which caused him severe pain and swelling and his arm had to be stabilized inside a sling. Mayfield will almost certainly have to go under the knife this offseason.

Mayfield had insisted last week that he wouldn’t miss a game, but poor arm mobility convinced him to end his 53-start streak.

Stefanski wasn’t sure if he would find out ahead of Wednesday’s practice if Mayfield can return.

“We’ll see,” he said. It’s hard to say how it will turn out. I don’t do predictions. There are many things I want to have. We have to work through whatever is going on. »

Keenum, who hadn’t started a game since 2019, threw a touchdown pass and scored an important first down in the Browns’ 17-14 win over the Broncos. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards.

The Browns (4-3) are confident Keenum can guide them to victory until Mayfield is ready.

Mayfield wasn’t the only starter missing Monday. Receiver Jarvis Landry, safety John Johnson III, slotback David Njoku, defensive tackle Malik Jackson and center JC Tretter were not on the field.

Stefanski said Johnson, Njoku and Jackson will return to practice on Wednesday.