Subscribe
Follow Us
The Cleveland Browns were forced to put quarterback Baker Mayfield in during Week 3 after quarterback Tyrod Taylor left the game with a concussion. It appears Taylor has finally been cleared to play.
The Browns have already named Mayfield the starter. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, head coach Hue Jackson officially declared Taylor the backup after passing the concussion protocol:
“He’s going to be right here,” Jackson said Monday. “He’s not going anywhere. That’s important. Part of Baker being able to play like he did was because of Tyrod and Drew. I don’t want to upset that room that way. I don’t think there’s any reason to.
Taylor's return indicates that Cleveland may have a valuable trade piece on their hands. However, Jackson doubled down on his role with the team.
Article Continues Below
“Tyrod is going to be needed. He’s the backup quarterback on this team if he’s healthy, and he’s played. His teammates know who he is and how he goes about the rhythm of his game. It’s always good to have that kind of depth at that position, especially if we’re traveling down this road, which we are.”
It goes without saying that Taylor's tenure as the starter was rather underwhelming. Even Browns fans had seemingly reached their boiling point during a lackluster first half against the New York Jets.
However, that all changed immediately as soon as Mayfield entered the game. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 201 yards to lead the Browns to a comeback victory while establishing his status as the starter. Taylor had no choice but to watch the rookie win over the hearts of Cleveland in just one game. It is very possible that he has played his last snap for the Browns, barring injury.
After years of struggling to find a competent quarterback, the Browns now have themselves a surplus under center. Although Jackson is adamant about keeping Taylor around as the backup, there are a number of quarterback-hungry teams who may just inquire about his availability. It will be interesting to see if any rumors start to swirl about his name landing on the market.
