CLEVELAND, Ohio – Did you see the Browns sack Carson Wentz five times? Did you notice the Philadelphia QB looking rattled – nothing at all like the elite prospect of a few years ago?
About the same time Sunday, Joe Burrow was carted off the field with what was diagnosed as a season-ending ACL knee injury.
Finally, I was watching how the Browns are handling Baker Mayfield. The offense is built around the run with a strong offensive line ranked among the best in pass protection this season.
One of the reasons the Browns decided to keep trading down in 2016 rather than draft Wentz with the No. 2 pick was the issue of pass protection. Former GM Sashi Brown told me the Browns didn’t want to see a young QB physically pounded as a rookie.
Let’s look at Wentz, who began his career with the Eagles instead of Cleveland:
1. In the preseason of 2016, he broke a rib. He did come back to play all 16 regular season games as a rookie.
2. In 2017, he was 11-2 as a starter, but suffered ACL and LCL injuries to the same knee. The Eagles won the Super Bowl that year with backup Nick Foles at QB.
3. In 2018, he sustained a “back vertebral fracture.” He played 11 games.
4. In 2019, he suffered a significant concussion and missed his team’s opening playoff game. He did play all 16 regular season games.
What’s the point? Wentz has taken a physical pounding with the Eagles, a far superior team to the Browns in the early years of his career.
What do you think would have happened if he had come to Cleveland?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch walks off the field during a 2002 game.The Plain Dealer
MEMORIES OF TIM COUCH
While watching Wentz struggle during his team’s 22-17 loss to the Browns, I thought of Tim Couch, the Browns’ top pick in the 1999 draft. He started as a rookie. He was sacked 117 times in his first three pro seasons.
Couch had so many injuries, it’s hard to keep track. By 2003, he was only 26. The previous two seasons (2001-02), the Browns had a 15-15 record with him as a starter. But there were so many broken bones, strained ligaments and concussions, Couch was football’s wounded warrior.
He would never play another NFL game after the 2003 season, his fifth as a pro. Will it be that extreme for Wentz? Not saying that, but it could have been if he’d come to the Browns.
When I wrote Browns Blues, I talked to Couch. He said he occasionally wondered if his career would have been different starting with an established team such as Pittsburgh.
It’s a fair question. Had Wentz come to Cleveland, he’d have been with a 1-31 team in 2016-17. In that span, they started five QBs. Four times, the changes were made because the starter was injured.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a knee injury against the Washington Football Team Sunday.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
WORRIED ABOUT JOE BURROW
After watching Burrow play against the Browns twice early in the season, I brought up the memory of Tim Couch to a few of my friends.
“They are going to get this kid killed,” I said. “He’s throwing all the time. He’s running too often. Why?”
When Burrow was injured Sunday, he was leading the NFL with 404 pass attempts. Wentz leads in being sacked with 40. Burrow is third with 32. The amazing Russell Wilson, who has never missed a game in nine seasons, was No. 2 with 33 sacks.
Like Wentz in 2017, Burrow will have significant knee surgery. This kid is a tremendous prospect, but the Bengals did a poor job protecting him.
Carson Wentz and Baker Mayfield shared a few words after the Browns’ 22-17 victory last Sunday. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
ABOUT THE BROWNS
In retrospect, the big problem passing on Wentz in 2016. It was what they did with all the draft picks they received in those deals. As Mary Kay Cabot pointed out in her excellent story, they received little in return.
Meanwhile, another thought came up watching Wentz and Baker Mayfield Sunday. Kevin Stefanski’s run-first offense does more than keep pressure off Mayfield to win games himself. It’s a good way to keep a QB healthy.
While Burrow has thrown 404 passes this season and Wentz has 377 attempts, Mayfield is at 265. That ranks 26th. Some QBs can throw a lot of passes and stay away from injuries. Most are veterans who are smart enough to know when to get rid of the ball. Or when they are hit, they go down. Just take the sack, don’t try to be a hero and act like a running back.
I don’t know what kind of career Mayfield will have. His durability — Mayfield hasn’t missed a game as a pro — is an asset. His new coach also is helping him.
As for Wentz, he’s with a team that won a Super Bowl in 2017 and has been trending downward ever since. Between that fact and his variety of injuries, it’s not surprising he’s having a miserable season.
RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS
Browns Postgame Scribbles: Stefanski’s mindset, Denzel Ward’s mental approach
A Wet & Wild Browns victory, Enjoy it!
Terry’s Talkin’ Tribe: Mike Clevinger’s injury, Emmanuel Clase
Terry’s Talkin’ Browns: Changes to the offense? Words from Nick Chubb
Cavs wisely go for defense in the draft with Okoro
Hey Terry, what about Cavs deals? The Draft?
Browns Postgame Scribbles: Myles, Chubb & Kareem
An Ugly Win? Who cares? Browns are 6-3 and Nick Chubb is back!
Terry Talkin’ Cavs rumors, possible picks
Terry’s Talkin’ Browns: The Self Scout
How do we grade Baker Mayfield at midseason?
Fanatics has released Cleveland Browns face masks. This 3-pack of mask, in adult and youth sizes, retails for $24.99 with all NFL licensing proceeds going to the CDC Foundation.
New Browns face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection for adults and youth, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NFL proceeds donated to CDC Foundation.
