CLEVELAND -- From an injury standpoint, the Cleveland Browns had a tough start to their preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday night, and starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was not immune.
Taylor suffered an injury to his left hand in the first quarter and spent two possessions getting evaluated by the medical team before returning to finish the first half of the 5-0 win over the reigning Super Bowl Champion Eagles.
“Anytime your quarterback gets nicked like that, you are always concerned, but I think the fact that he was able to go back into the game was a good sign,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “I know we will make sure that we take care of it this week, whatever that is, and get him back to where he needs to be. I feel comfortable and confident that he is going to be okay, and that will happen.”
On fourth-and-goal from Philadelphia’s one-yard line, Taylor scrambled out of the pocket and toward the left side of the formation, and as soon as he let go of the ball, his left hand buckled underneath him on the way to the turf.
With Taylor writhing in pain on the ground, members of the offensive line immediately waved to the Cleveland sideline for medical assistance, but before the training staff could get to the opposite sideline, the eighth-year quarterback hustled his way over the Browns’ bench while keeping his left arm still and braced against his body.
Prior to the injury, Taylor completed four of his eight throws for 19 yards.
“I was very concerned,” Jackson said. “It is a hand. I was not sure, and anytime your starting quarterback goes into the locker room, you are not sure, but he came back. Obviously, he went back into the game, so we will continue to look at it and see where we are as we head into next week.”
Following his return, Taylor completed seven passes for 46 yards.
Taylor ended the first half 11 of 16 for 65 yards and rushed for five more on two carries.
“That is who he is,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said of Taylor returning to the game. “He is a competitor. He wants to be out there. He is the same way that I am in regards to that. He wants to be out there and playing with his guys.”
In his three preseason appearances with the Browns, Taylor completed 20 of his 30 throws (66.7 percent) with one touchdown on the way to helping the team with both of their outings against NFC East Division teams, the Eagles and New York Giants.
Although Taylor returned to the game, he will be monitored to see how the injury progresses.
“X-Rays were negative, but I think it is important that we do everything that we need to do to make sure we know exactly where that hand is,” Jackson said.
“We will check everything and see where he is, but hopefully, everything will be okay.”
Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial
