CLEVELAND — Baker Mayfield declined to meet with reporters following the Cleveland Browns' 13-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, marking the first time in his four-year NFL career he has opted not to talk to the media after a game.
It is standard for each team's starting quarterback to be made available to the media after games. In some cases, players can be fined for failing to do so.
Mayfield's decision not to meet with the media came after he and the Browns' offense were booed multiple times by the home crowd during an ugly win over the winless Lions. Dealing with rainy conditions throughout the afternoon, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft completed 15 of his 29 pass attempts for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Mayfield's underwhelming performance was just the latest in a season in which he's been dealing with injuries dating back to Week 2 when he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder attempting to make a tackle after throwing an interception vs. the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old signal-caller reaggravated the injury and suffered a fractured bone his left shoulder taking a sack from J.J. Watt in the Browns' Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, which forced him to miss Cleveland's Week 7 victory vs. the Denver Broncos.
While that would be the only significant playing time he's missed this season, Mayfield has since suffered injuries to his foot and knee. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, the Oklahoma product admitted that his injuries have hampered his play, stating that he's the most banged up he's been since entering the league.
“This is probably the most beat up I’ve ever been in my career," Mayfield said. "It's not like it's one particular thing, it's multiple. It's just that time of the year and things add up."