HEADLINE

Browns QB Mayfield in comfort zone after coaching change

The Sports Xchange

November 26, 2018 at 11:35 pm.

Change has been good for Cleveland rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield.

He has been more productive since the Browns fired coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley and turned over the play-calling duties to running backs coach Freddie Kitchens with Gregg Williams the interim head coach.

Mayfield has led the Browns to consecutive wins for the first time since Weeks 8-10 of the 2014 season. He cites the chemistry in the huddle and in the locker room is a reason behind the increased productivity.

“As the experience continues, the comfortability grows,” Mayfield said after the Browns’ 35-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati Sunday. “There’s really nothing else to that. As I see more looks and more things, I’m going to be more comfortable. I just have to go out there and do my job, as I keep saying. It’s repetitive, but it’s the truth.”

Mayfield completed 19 of 26 passes for 258 yards with a franchise rookie-record four touchdowns against Cincinnati. He averaged 9.9 yards per attempt and connected with eight different receivers in the win over the Bengals.

“Good calls and good execution,” Mayfield said. “My offensive line and our guys were making plays. They’re protecting. I’m getting the ball out quickly, getting it into our playmakers’ hands, and they’re doing the rest.”

In the Browns’ previous game against Atlanta on Nov. 11 — a 28-16 win at Cleveland — Mayfield completed 17 of 20 passes for 216 yards with three touchdowns. He started that game with 13 consecutive completions.

“We’re taking shots when they’re there, and we’re able to play aggressive,” Mayfield said. “Against a team like that, you want to start fast. They’re a team that starts fast, so we needed to do that. We were emphasizing that all week, but yeah, a lot of that can be attributed to Freddie.

“Everything seemed to be working, but that’s the way we want it here in Cleveland.”

Since the mid-season coaching change, Mayfield has completed 73.8 percent of his passes (65 of 88) for 771 yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception.

“He’s been terrific,” Browns safety Jabrill Peppers said. “When you have a guy who manages the game and makes plays, it makes playing defense a little easier. When you’re not playing from behind all the time, it makes defense a little easier.

“When they’re controlling the clock like that, it makes defense a little easier. Baker has done a great job coming in and taking control of the offense. He makes plays in crucial situations. He’s been a blessing, and I can’t wait to see him develop. We’ll see how this shakes out down the line.”

–C JC Tretter, who has battled through a high ankle sprain since Week 6, was listed as questionable before Sunday’s game at Cincinnati. He has carried that status into the last five games and has played. He played against the Bengals although he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and was a limited participant Friday.

–TE David Njoku, a limited participant in practice throughout last week, was also questionable with a knee injury but he played against the Bengals. He scored a touchdown in the game.

–CB Terrance Mitchell was designated to return from injured reserve last week. Mitchell, who started four games before going down with a fractured wrist in Cleveland’s Week 4 loss to the Raiders, returned to the practice field last Wednesday. Per league rules, he must miss two games, making him eligible to return for the Browns’ Week 14 game against the Panthers. Mitchell is the first Browns player to be designated to return from injured reserve this season. Each team is allowed a maximum of two.

–DB Lenzy Pipkins was signed to the practice squad last week. The Browns had an open spot on their practice squad after DB Arrion Springs was released on Nov. 13. Pipkins (6-0, 196) is officially in his second NFL season out of Oklahoma State. Originally an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2017, he’s started two of 15 career games, collecting 23 tackles and a pass breakup. This season, Pipkins started one game for the Indianapolis Colts before being released and acquired via waivers by the Detroit Lions. He appeared in two games for the Lions and was waived on Nov. 12.

–RB Nick Chubb had 128 yards of offense and two touchdowns on 31 touches against the Bengals, including a seemingly impossible touchdown reception that he pinned against Brandon Wilson’s helmet and pulled into his chest as he hit the ground.