CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield impressed the coaches and front office decision-makers throughout training camp and the preseason, so much so that the first-year signal-caller was moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart.
In a meeting with Mayfield and veteran Drew Stanton, Browns coach Hue Jackson named their rookie quarterback the backup in the season finale of the HBO Sports documentary miniseries “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns” on Tuesday night.
“I think it’s important that I address both of you guys together first. I’ve made a decision to make Baker the backup quarterback,” Jackson said.
“I wanted you guys to hear it from me, instead of all the stuff that flies out there and all that bulls$*!. I think it’s important that you hear that from me, okay? Which is a lot of responsibility for you (Baker), doesn’t change for you (Drew). Still got to be ready to play, ready to go, but that’s the direction I want to travel. So I wanted you guys to know that.”
Mayfield was given the chance to start the team’s final preseason game, and when he took command of the offense against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit last Thursday night, the opportunity did not go to waste.
Mayfield played the entire first half of the 35-17 victory and completed nine of his 16 throws for 138 yards, rushed for two yards and led three successful scoring drives, two of which finished in the end zone with rushing scores from Nick Chubb and Matthew Dayes, respectively.
After the Browns received the opening kickoff, Mayfield engineered a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Chubb finished off with a three-yard touchdown run. Zane Gonzalez’s point-after gave Cleveland a 7-0 lead over the Lions with 10:09 to play in the first quarter.
Mayfield completed three of his four throws for 55 yards on the drive, including a 41-yard pass to tight end Devon Cajuste on the very first scrimmage play of the game that moved the ball from Cleveland’s 20-yard line to Detroit’s 39.
On a seven-play scoring drive that Gonzalez capped off with a 39-yard field goal later in the first half, Mayfield got the passing game going early.
Mayfield started the drive with a 30-yard pass to Dayes, who ran straight out of the backfield after initially staying in to block, hung a left at the linebacker into open space, secured the catch and broke free for the big gain.
During his first preseason with the Browns, Mayfield completed 35 of his 61 attempts for 501 yards and two touchdowns against one interception.
“I’m proud of what you’ve done, you’ve come in here the right way, you’ve handled everything the right way, and I think that’s important for this football team,” Jackson said after dismissing Stanton from the meeting.
“You’re a very talented young man, keep grinding. And I’m going to keep creating situations for you to even do more. You keep doing your part every day. This is going to be your life for a long time, so I hope you understand the opportunity that’s in front of you right now. But you’ve earned it. I’m not just giving it to you. You’ve earned it.”
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