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Baker Mayfield officially announced as Browns starting quarterback

Liz Roscher
·Staff writer

The Cleveland Browns are ready to move forward with Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback. Browns coach Hue Jackson announced on Monday that 2018’s first overall draft pick would be starting, confirming Sunday’s report from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Mayfield made his debut in the Browns’ Thursday night game against the New York Jets, and he led the team to their first victory in 635 days. Prior to Thursday, the Browns hadn’t won a game since Dec. 24, 2016. And Mayfield was exactly what the Browns needed. He was 17-for-23 in passing for 201 yards, and the guy even caught a two-point conversion.

Baker Mayfield's first start this season will be against the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday. (AP)
Baker Mayfield’s first start this season will be against the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday. (AP)

Mayfield didn’t start the game on Thursday. Jackson went to Mayfield only after starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of the game with a concussion. At that point, the Browns were in a 14-0 hole. After Mayfield came in, the Browns went on to win 21-17.

After Mayfield led the Browns to that monumental win, Jackson refused to commit to naming Mayfield — or anyone — as the team’s starter, saying that he had to “watch the tape” first. After he watched the tape, he shared his effusive praise with Cleveland.com.

“It was as good as I thought live,” he said. “(Mayfield) made some tremendous throws. Obviously, he was able to move the team. Played with some rhythm. Got the ball into the playmakers’ hands and gave them chances to make plays. There are some things that he has to clean up obviously.

“We can’t have the ball out on the ground. There are some progression things that we’ll work through. Overall for his first game out under the lights in that environment in that situation, he handled all of that extremely well and played well.”

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter at @lizroscher.

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