After months of speculation, Deshaun Watsonhas beensuspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season. That means that Jacoby Brissett will probably be under center when the Browns take on the Panthers in Week 1.
Curiously, Cleveland could face a familar face that weekend if Baker Mayfield ends up winning the job in Carolina. They have a lot of history together, but it didn’t end well. Mayfield’s days with the Browns looked numbered for months, yet he wasn’t traded until July.
With Watson unavailable for the beginning of the season, it’s fair to wonder whether the team didn’t make a mistake by burning all its bridges with Mayfield. Unsurprisingly, he was asked aboutthe Browns’ QBsituation shortly after the news broke out— but he preferred to stay away from it.
Baker Mayfieldnot paying attention to Browns’ QB situation
“Honestly, it’s none of my business,” Mayfield toldJosina Andersonof CBS Sports. “I don’t play against the other quarterback. I know that’s the most cliche thing to say, but that’s just the truth when it comes down to it. I’m game-planning against that defense. … So, I’ve got to keep getting better.
“I’m not focused on Week 1 right now. … We’ll handle that when it comes, but for now, it’s about getting the Panthers better and our offense continuing to get better as well.”
Though it would be fair to think that the Panthers wouldn’t have traded for him if they didn’t want him as starter, it looks like Mayfield will have to win the job in the next few weeks. Sam Darnold failed to impress last year, butitseemsthat he still has a chance.