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 didnât end well. Mayfieldâs days with the Browns looked numbered for months, yet he wasnât traded until July.
With Watson unavailable for the beginning of the season, itâs fair to wonder whether the team didnât make a mistake by burning all its bridges with Mayfield. Unsurprisingly, he was asked aboutthe Brownsâ QBsituation shortly after the news broke outâ but he preferred to stay away from it.
Baker Mayfieldnot paying attention to Brownsâ QB situation
âHonestly, itâs none of my business,â Mayfield toldJosina Andersonof CBS Sports. âI donât play against the other quarterback. I know thatâs the most cliche thing to say, but thatâs just the truth when it comes down to it. Iâm game-planning against that defense. ⊠So, Iâve got to keep getting better.
âIâm not focused on Week 1 right now. ⊠Weâll handle that when it comes, but for now, itâs about getting the Panthers better and our offense continuing to get better as well.â
Though it would be fair to think that the Panthers wouldnât have traded for him if they didnât 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.
