Baker Mayfield injures hand but returns, Odell Beckham has injury scare too
In the matter of a few moments, the Cleveland Browns lost their two most indispensable players just before halftime against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thankfully, neither injury ended up being too bad.
First it was quarterback Baker Mayfield. As he followed through on a pass, his right throwing hand hit a Steelers lineman’s helmet. He grabbed at his thumb in pain, and athletic trainers led him back to the locker room with a couple seconds left in the half. Garrett Gilbert took over at quarterback. Mayfield came out of the locker room with a glove on his hand and returned to start the second half.
The Browns eventually lost 20-13. Mayfield ended with 196 passing yards on 18-of-32 passing with one touchdown and one interception. The pick came in the final drive with the Browns down a TD.
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was led back to the locker room with two seconds left in the half and the Browns with the ball, indicating he was injured too. Beckham returned as well in the second half. He finished with three catches for 29 receiving yards.
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The Browns are already playing without defensive end Myles Garrett, who is suspended for at least the rest of this season due to his role in a brawl with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. So it was a sigh of relief that Mayfield and Beckham could keep going.
The Browns had somehow gotten themselves back in the AFC playoff picture, but they can’t afford any more personnel losses.
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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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