Cleveland Browns fans witnessed Baker Mayfield play injured for nearly the entire 2021 season.
It was a bizarre storyline and the situation never made much sense.
Why was he playing with a torn labrum, along with other injuries?
Things don’t often make sense with the Browns and the final result was the team falling way short of expectations and missing the postseason.
The latest update on Mayfield is that he is undergoing surgery to repair his torn labrum Wednesday.
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield having left shoulder surgery tomorrow morning in L.A. as scheduled. He'll have torn labrum repaired during ambulatory procedure.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) January 19, 2022
That has the entire NFL world reacting Wednesday morning.
@bakermayfield HAPPY SURGERY DAY!! Hope all goes well!! GO BROWNS!
— OneManShow (@CleGoins8) January 19, 2022
NFL World Reacts To Mayfield Surgery News
Mayfield has been a polarizing player not just in Cleveland, but around the entire NFL.
That has fans reacting in a variety of ways.
Some are wishing him luck, while others just can’t stop finding reasons to criticize him.
@bakermayfield as someone who has had labrum surgery i can assure you the next few weeks won’t be fun or easy but trust me after a month or two you will feel 10x better than you did before
— sam howell stan account (@N_Penn10) January 19, 2022
Good luck on surgery today @bakermayfield!
— Patrick Lynch (@BigPat31) January 19, 2022
Future Indianapolis Colt
— Diamond Dallas Dean Pees (@DDPEES) January 19, 2022
So y’all can continue losing 💀
— Toler Tank (@TolerTank) January 19, 2022
Mayfield’s surgery itself is a polarizing topic because the injury was suffered way back in Week 2.
So was Mayfield demanding that he played?
Was it head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision to run him out there injured all year?
There was never much clarity and it only adds to the drama surrounding the quarterback’s name even today as he undergoes the procedure.
Here’s to a Successful & Efficient Surgery For Our QB @bakermayfield!! Praying for you & your family today! @emilywmayfield6 #Browns #BakerMania pic.twitter.com/Y9kK35AuHP
— BrownsTherapy (@BrownsTherapy) January 19, 2022
baker mayfield was the problem https://t.co/XuDT4eQB9d
— J_Walk (@J_Walk_Music) January 19, 2022
2022-2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year: @bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/P0UNXZGARS
— Lite Italian from Ohio (@lite_italian) January 19, 2022
The Browns are left in a tough spot.
The former No. 1 overall pick is set to play 2022 on his fifth-year option.
One plan of attack could be to stand pat, get a healthy Mayfield back, and act like nothing is wrong in 2022.
But that would be a shock because if he shows any regression, the Browns need a backup plan for the future.
That could mean the team signs some competition, drafts a young quarterback, or even swaps Mayfield for a veteran on the market.
Prayers for your surgery @bakermayfield! #Browns fans cheering for your recovery and comeback! https://t.co/Md4orMVV9V
— Rhonda_Metcalf (@metcalfrhonda95) January 19, 2022
He seems to have plenty of support in Cleveland, so time will tell what the Browns decide to do.
NEXT: NFL World Reacts To Baker Mayfield Update