Getty Image / Nick Cammett
Following the Cleveland Browns 27-19 home victory over the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, former #1 overall pick and starting quarterback Baker Mayfield blasted the Browns’ training staff for the way they handled an injury to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Speaking to reporters following the game, Mayfield said that Beckham Jr’s sports hernia “wasn’t handled right” because it wasn’t operated on during the preseason.
UPDATE (5:51 p.m.): Mayfield has released a statement on Twitter saying that he did not intend to “throw our [the Browns] medical staff under the bus”
Those people within our building know my intentions and where I am coming from. I truly believe that and I apologize to those that don’t deserve the backlash…. today was a good team win. On to the next one.
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) December 8, 2019
Mayfield’s comments come after news broke that Beckham has been playing through a “serious and often painful” sports hernia that will require surgery during the offseason, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport notes that Beckham Jr. has been on the injury report every week since Week One, first with a hip injury from week 1 through 6, and then with a groin injury from Week 7 onward. As Rapoport points out, “sports hernias are sometimes characterized as hip or groin injuries, and often both.”
Baker Mayfield spoke out on this, saying the sports hernia injury to Odell “wasn’t handled right. He’s not able to run as well as he should be able to — and that’s frustrating to him.” Mayfield indicated it should’ve been addressed surgically in camp. https://t.co/XaBj0U0cWZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2019
Baker Mayfield says the #Browns training staff did not handle Odell Beckham’s sports hernia properly. He said Beckham should have had surgery in training camp an missed the first two games. pic.twitter.com/10mL5Grgt2
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) December 8, 2019
“[I’ve] been banged up all year since whatever happened in camp. Playing through whatever it is, just trying to make it through to Sunday. Any time Sunday comes around, I’m going to give the team everything I have,” Beckham said when asked about his injury during the week.
With just three weeks left in the NFL season, the Pro Bowl wide receiver is on pace for his worst year ever as a professional (except for 2017, which was cut short after four games due to injury), as he only has 57 catches for 805 yards and two touchdowns this season. At this current pace, Beckham Jr. is on track for just 69 catches for 977 yards.
Mayfield’s comments come at a time where Beckham’s future in Cleveland has come into question, as it was reported that the mercurial wide receiver was reportedly telling opposing players and coaches before games to “come get” him.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com