What’s wrong with Baker Mayfield? Browns QB to play through various injuries on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Baker Mayfield is shouldering a lot of pain this season.

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has only missed a single game in 2021, but his bruised, battered and broken left shoulder has been a topic of conversation all season long.

While Mayfield hasn’t sidelined himself — nor have the Browns sidelined him — the injury is going to keep him out for a fairly lengthy time this offseason, though he should be ready to go for the start of 2022.

Here’s what you need to know about the myriad of Mayfield injuries:

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Baker Mayfield injury update

While Mayfield has only missed a single game this year due to injury, he’s battled through a pair of separate injuries to his shoulder that have been a topic of conversation for almost the entire season.

First, and most notably, Mayfield is dealing with a completely torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. While his bum shoulder has only kept him out for one game, he’s expected to undergo offseason surgery that could require 4-to-6 months recovery time.

Mayfield suffered the torn labrum injury in Week 2 when he tried to make a tackle on an interception return vs. the Texans. He caused further damage to the shoulder in Week 6, when he was brought down awkwardly on a strip-sack from J.J. Watt.

Mayfield suffered a fracture to the humerus bone on the strip-sack, while his shoulder once again popped out of its socket in the same game, the third such dislocation on the season.

The fracture is what kept him sidelined for the Browns’ matchup vs. the Broncos in Week 7, with the quarterback dealing with a lack of strength in that shoulder.  Mayfield vowed to play vs. Denver, but after a second opinion, he was forced to sit out.

“Only I know how my body feels,” Mayfield said prior to the game. “If anyone questions whether I’m hindering the team and going out there injured, that’s just not right. It’s my decision. I get to say whether I am able to play or not, and that’s just how it is.”

Apparently, the shoulder healed well enough that it allowed him to play Week 8 vs. the Steelers — and on after that. As long as the shoulder fracture doesn’t worsen, then Mayfield shouldn’t have to worry about surgery to repair the injured bone, as well. 

The shoulder wasn’t the only thing that Mayfield has been dealing with in 2021: In Week 10, Mayfield was forced out of the Browns’ matchup with the Patriots with a knee contusion. The injury, though, didn’t keep him out, as he was active and played in Week 12 without issue.