CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski isn’t concerned about that old lack of chemistry between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. rearing it’s ugly head after they failed to connect during Sunday’s 14-7 victory over the Vikings.
“When you throw the ball deep, you’re not going to hit all of those,’’ Stefanski said during his Zoom conference Monday.
With Mayfield as inaccurate as he’s ever been, Beckham caught only 2-of-7 targets for 27 yards. It was the sixth time the duo has produced receiving yards in the 20s in their 25 games together. It’s unusual for Beckham, who only had two games in the 20s in 59 games with the Giants.
As for Mayfield’s wild arm — he completed only 15-of-33 attempts (45%) for 155 yards with no TDs and no INTs for a 59.5 rating, Stefanski had no explanation for it. He said based on what he sees in practice, he doesn’t think the left shoulder, which popped out vs. the Texans two weeks ago and had to be popped back in, is a factor.
He also didn’t seem to think footwork was an issue, even though Mayfield was uncharacteristically inaccurate. Heading, he was No. 5 in the NFL with a 73.8 completion percentage, third-highest in team history through the first four weeks of a season.
Stefanski re-iterated that he didn’t do a good enough job of getting guys open, including on the opening drive, which ended with another fourth-down sack.
Jedrick Wills Jr. has an MRI
Wills was carted off for the second straight week with his ankle injury, and this time replaced by rookie James Hudson, who committed a costly false start on 4th and 1 to force the Browns to punt. Wills underwent an MRI on Monday, and the Browns will continue to monitor him throughout the week. They’d be more inclined to let him rest if Chris Hubbard is back from his triceps injury, but they might not have a choice this week depending on what the MRI shows.
It wasn’t a high ankle sprain to begin with, but Wills was rolled up on by Nick Chubb in the Bears game, and had another setback Sunday. He threw his helmet in frustration when he came to the sidelines.
Ronnie Harrison Jr. doesn’t have a concussion
Stefanski said safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. doesn’t have a concussion, and was cleared Monday morning. Per terms of the NFL’s concussion protocol, Harrison wasn’t cleared Sunday after he left the game after playing two snaps. He was replaced by Grant Delpit, who did an excellent job in relief.
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