Browns' Baker Mayfield Expected to Play vs. Lions After Suffering Knee Injury

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to play in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions despite exiting against the New England Patriots on Sunday with a knee injury.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed to reporters that Mayfield suffered a knee contusion and could have returned to the game, but he held his quarterback out as New England finished off an eventual 45-7 victory.

Coming into the contest, Mayfield had been dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder throughout the 2021 season and missed Cleveland's Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

The Browns kept Mayfield sidelined against the Broncos because of a short week following their Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He had made 51 consecutive starts for the Browns before missing the Oct. 21 matchup against Denver.

Mayfield's injury issues began in Week 2 when he dislocated his left shoulder and tore his labrum while trying to make a tackle on an interception return against the Houston Texans. He landed on the shoulder in Week 6, reaggravating the torn labrum and suffering a tuberosity fracture.

The 2018 first overall pick is expected to undergo offseason shoulder surgery, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Amid the injury, Mayfield and the Browns have had an up-and-down season. Coming into Sunday, the veteran quarterback had thrown for 1,917 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 66.7 percent of his passes.

If Mayfield is unable to play going forward, Case Keenum, who stepped in under center on Sunday, will take over.