Getty Browns QB Baker Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield has been quiet since the unceremonious end to a Cleveland Browns season in which they went 8-9 and missed the NFL playoffs, but he broke his silence on January 18 with an Instagram Stories message that was captured and tweeted by Nate Ulrich of the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal.
In the message, Mayfield referred to a surgical procedure scheduled for January 19 to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Jake Trotter of ESPN reported the scheduled operation, which he wrote was to be performed by Dr. Orr Limpisvasti, orthopedic surgeon for the Anaheim Ducks.
“Appreciate all the prayers and good luck wishes on the surgery tomorrow. Excited to get it done and start the road to recovery tomorrow. I’ll keep y’all updated,” Mayfield wrote on his Instagram story, which disappears after 24 hours. “Thankful to have an amazing support group to help through the process.”
Mayfield Received Death Threats Over Poor Play
On December 30, Mayfield’s wife, Emily, used social media to say the couple had received death threats amid the Baker’s and the Browns’ struggles.
“it’s crazy how much negativity is amplified via social media. I’m still a believer that there’s more good people out there than bad, but WOW does social media make me think otherwise sometimes. Which plays into why I love to spread positivity. Our world needs more of it,” Emily Mayfield wrote in an Instagram story before launching into more serious allegations. “The death threats, lies being told about my husband, and blatant DISRESPECT never ceases to amaze me. For the record – I pray those of you who even think those thoughts, let alone type them out. I hope you can find some happiness so you stop trying to steal it from others.”
During a news conference on December 30, Baker Mayfield told reporters that the threats didn’t rise to the level of the Mayfields’ needing additional security or the involvement of league officials, but he acknowledged that it’s easier for him than it is for his family to ignore such threats.
“So it’s tough to tell your loved ones and your family not to defend you and look into stuff. That’s just human nature,” Mayfield said. “But you have to take one day at a time and realize your priorities, your family members, the people that truly matter to you. Those are the opinions you need to listen to. It’s just one of those things that it’s blown up to be a much bigger deal on the outside. It’s not like it’s anything new for us.”
Browns Excited to Get Healthy Mayfield Back
Mayfield injured his non-throwing shoulder on September 19 while trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception in a Week 2 home win against the Houston Texans. He continued to play with the injury throughout the season. He re-injured his shoulder on October 17 taking a hit against the Cardinals in a 37-14 loss. He also dealt with ailments to his groin, knee and foot. He finished the season with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, seven of which came in Mayfield’s final three games.
The Browns have announced that they plan to have Mayfield as their starting quarterback in 2022.
“We fully expect Baker to be our starter and bounce back,” Browns GM Andrew Berry told reporters. “Generally speaking, we are looking forward to Baker obviously getting healthy in the offseason and then putting good work into the spring and with his coaches for having the type of season we know he can have moving forward.”