WATCH: Baker Mayfield hits tight end David Njoku for 71-yard touchdown
The Cleveland Browns retook the lead against the Los Angeles Chargers early in the fourth quarter. During the back-and-forth offensive battle between the Browns and Chargers, Baker Mayfield stepped into a 71-yard touchdown pass to reserve tight end David Njoku.
On second-and-three from the 29-yard line, the Browns called a shot play down the middle. Baker Mayfield stood in the pocket and delivered a ball down the middle to David Njoku at the 45-yard line. The Chargers defender fell down attempting to make a tackle opening up space behind. Njoku ran 55 yards past several defenders to reach the corner of the endzone for a touchdown.
After being relegated to backup snaps with the additions of Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant over recent years, David Njoku has made a comeback. Midway through the fourth quarter, he has six catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.
Baker Mayfield playing through injury
Baker Mayfield is reportedly dealing with a nagging shoulder injury, but the Cleveland Browns quarterback continues playing through the issue.
“Browns QB Baker Mayfield, who has been wearing a shoulder harness to play, suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder on Sept 19 vs the Texans, sources say,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport tweeted last week. “No surgery needed as of now. He was listed on the report after the injury and hasn’t missed a practice snap.”
Furthermore, Rapoport added that Mayfield will not be taken off the field. The Browns quarterback will play through, and he believes the injury will not affect his play.
“Baker Mayfield will continue to play through the ailment,” added Rapoport. “Asked yesterday by reporters if the shoulder harness affects his play, he said: ‘It shouldn’t, no.’”
The former first-overall pick in the NFL Draft did not look like his usual self against the Minnesota Vikings last week. Although the Browns found a way to come out victorious, Mayfield completed less than half of his passes.
To illustrate, Mayfield was 15-of-33 passing the football last week, accumulating just 155 yards and no touchdowns. Additionally, he missed star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on multiple occasions, as Beckham Jr. finished with just two catches for 27 yards.
After this week, Baker Mayfield has to try to keep up with the high-powered offense of the Arizona Cardinals. Then, Von Miller comes to town with the Denver Broncos for a Thursday Night Football face-off the following week.