Browns' Mayfield playing in preseason finale against Falcons

Aug 27, 2021

Baker Mayfield will get a summer tune-up after all

CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield will get a summer tune-up after all.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski surprisingly said Friday that Mayfield and some “select” Cleveland starters will play in Sunday night's nationally televised exhibition finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

Not wanting to risk injuries, Stefanski had kept his starting quarterback and the majority of his starters on the sideline for the team's first two preseason games.

"We’re just making decisions individually based on who needs to get some reps, making those decisions based on these practice reps, based on the joint practice reps, based on game reps,” Stefanski said following practice. “So we’ll hold some other guys out.”

There have been a range of methods — and opinions — across the league for playing starters in preseason games. Most teams have played their first-stringers at least a little, often giving their starting QBs a series or two.

Stefanski did not say how long Mayfield will be in the game or which other starters will see action with him.

"We have a plan, but I want to see how it goes,” he said.

Mayfield will likely be protected by Cleveland's offensive line, one of the league's best units. But Stefanski was coy about that as well.

“I’m not going to go through who’s playing, who’s not,” he said. “I gave you Baker. You’ve got to tune in Sunday night. NBC wants me to keep it a secret.”

Last week, the Browns held two joint practices against the New York Giants before beating them in an exhibition game. Cleveland's first-teamers played extensively in the heated workouts with the Giants but then watched from the sideline Sunday.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

More News

'Rivals' star Luke Pasqualino breaks silence on outrageous bet with Taggie
Nov 13, 2026
'Rivals' star Luke Pasqualino breaks silence on outrageous bet with Taggie

'Rivals' star Luke Pasqualino breaks silence on outrageous bet with TaggieRivals star Luke Pasqualino has come forward to support the sophomore season’s controversial storyline involving a hookup bet.For those unaware, Rivals is a British period comedy-drama television series based on the...

Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan’s Heist Drama ’12 12 12′ Feels Like a Bad Video Game: TV Review
Nov 13, 2026
Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan’s Heist Drama ’12 12 12′ Feels Like a Bad Video Game: TV Review

From “Ocean’s Eleven” to “The Italian Job” to Netflix’s “Money Heist,” robbery has long been a major subgenre in film and television, and now Apple TV’s “12 12 12” is delivering its own take. Created by Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton, the high-voltage thriller follows disgraced FBI Agent Jack Strickland (Anthony Mackie), who, driven by […]

Diana Silvers Confronts Grief and Growing Up on Personal, Profound Second Album ‘Daughter of Sorts’: ‘I Really Hope That People See Themselves in It’
Nov 13, 2026
Diana Silvers Confronts Grief and Growing Up on Personal, Profound Second Album ‘Daughter of Sorts’: ‘I Really Hope That People See Themselves in It’

In April of last year, Diana Silvers wrote the song “Daughter.” Over finger-picked acoustic guitar, the 29-year-old model, actress and singer-songwriter ruminates on the transition from girlhood to womanhood through the eyes of her mother — who, by the age Silvers is now, was already married with two children. “I can’t do it alone/ I […]

‘Virgin River’ Renewed for Season 9 to Become Netflix’s Longest-Running Original Scripted Series
Nov 13, 2026
‘Virgin River’ Renewed for Season 9 to Become Netflix’s Longest-Running Original Scripted Series

“Virgin River” has been renewed for Season 9 at Netflix, meaning it will become the longest-running Netflix scripted series to date by number of seasons. The news comes ahead of the launch of Season 8 of the hit series, which wrapped production over the summer and is slated to launch in 2027. Season 9 of […]

‘Virgin River’ Gets Early Season 9 Renewal, Officially Becomes Netflix’s Longest-Running Scripted Series
Nov 13, 2026
‘Virgin River’ Gets Early Season 9 Renewal, Officially Becomes Netflix’s Longest-Running Scripted Series

Netflix’s content leadership may be changing but one thing remains constant — Virgin River getting another early renewal. The long-running romantic drama starring Alexandra Breckeridge and Martin Henderson has been picked up for a ninth season months ahead of its 2027 Season 8 premiere. It will once again consist of 10 episodes, bringing the show’s […]

Fallen Star: How Nvidia CEO’s Scandal-Fueled Resignation Throws AI World for a Loop
Nov 13, 2026
Fallen Star: How Nvidia CEO’s Scandal-Fueled Resignation Throws AI World for a Loop

Jensen Huang’s departure comes at a sensitive time in the space, with an Anthropic IPO nearing and existential threats still in the ether The post Fallen Star: How Nvidia CEO’s Scandal-Fueled Resignation Throws AI World for a Loop appeared first on TheWrap.

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden World Tour Sets 2027 Arena Dates
Nov 13, 2026
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden World Tour Sets 2027 Arena Dates

Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” is heading to arenas, with the Golden World Tour set to open June 5, 2027, at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena, Netflix and AEG Presents said Friday. The Mastercard-presented show puts the film’s animated K-pop trio Huntr/x in front of live audiences. The first slate of dates spans 35 cities and 61 […]

'It's been amazing' - Owain Wyn Evans completes four-nation Children in Need ride
Nov 13, 2026
'It's been amazing' - Owain Wyn Evans completes four-nation Children in Need ride

Owain Wyn Evans cycled almost 400 miles, setting off from Glasgow and finishing in Cardiff.

‘The Bachelor’ Casts NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Season 30 Star
Nov 13, 2026
‘The Bachelor’ Casts NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Season 30 Star

After two years off the air, “The Bachelor” is returning for its 30th season with a brand new face: NFL player Sam Hartman will help relaunch the famous reality dating franchise beginning on March 21. Hartman is a quarterback for the Washington Commanders, who is also an alumnus of the Wake Forest and Notre Dame […]

Renny Harlin Launches Harlin House Fellowship for Emerging European Filmmakers, Taps Colin Trevorrow, Tim Miller as Advisors
Nov 13, 2026
Renny Harlin Launches Harlin House Fellowship for Emerging European Filmmakers, Taps Colin Trevorrow, Tim Miller as Advisors

Finnish director Renny Harlin has set up Harlin House, a production company that will mentor emerging European directors and help them turn their projects into genre features with commercial reach. Harlin unveiled the venture and its fellowship program on Nov. 13 at Helsinki’s Night Visions International Film Festival. Filmmakers chosen for the Harlin House Fellowship […]

Aly Muritiba Says It Was ‘Revolutionary’ to Centre Black Joy in Brazilian Musical ‘Funk’ Led by Rising Star Duda Santos
Nov 13, 2026
Aly Muritiba Says It Was ‘Revolutionary’ to Centre Black Joy in Brazilian Musical ‘Funk’ Led by Rising Star Duda Santos

At first glance, it might seem as if Aly Muritiba took quite a sharp turn with “Funk,” the high-octane musical that follows the Venice-selected “Private Desert” and Gramado closer “Drenched in Blood.” But a closer look reveals how all three films, as well as many of the director’s other lauded works, are informed by a […]

‘Project Hail Mary’ Cinematographer Greig Fraser On Bringing 1980s Pop Culture Influences To Ryan Gosling Sci-Fi Hit — ToruńCamerimage
Nov 13, 2026
‘Project Hail Mary’ Cinematographer Greig Fraser On Bringing 1980s Pop Culture Influences To Ryan Gosling Sci-Fi Hit — ToruńCamerimage

Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser took time out of shooting Sam Mendes’ The Beatles films to reflect on how he and directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller crafted the visuals for summer box office hit Project Hail Mary. Fraser spoke to Deadline during the ToruńCamerimage Film Festival and said that working with Lord and Miller had […]

NEWSLETTER
Reporter Pass

Bringing you to an exciting adventure to get the exclusive inside scoop on the latest celebrities news. Reporter Pass is the only access you need to get into Hollywood.