Browns' Case Keenum: Baker Mayfield sometimes needed 'small miracle' to play through injuries

Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Case Keenum filled in for a hurting Baker Mayfield in Week 7 and guided Cleveland to a home win over the Denver Broncos that Thursday night. Keenum is on track to get the start for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals now that the Browns have mercifully shut Mayfield down so the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft can have surgery to repair a reported torn labrum and fractured bone at the top of the humerus. 

Mayfield first hurt his non-throwing shoulder in Week 2 and then aggravated the issue during the Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. While speaking with reporters Wednesday, Keenum praised his teammate's ability to play through multiple physical setbacks. 

"He’s tough," Keenum said of Mayfield, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I’ve watched him get hit a little bit closer than most people – maybe his wife and his mom and then me. I might be third just to see how carefully he gets up. But he’s tough. Yeah, there were some weeks where to get him to the field, it was a small miracle." 

Keenum added that Mayfield "was battling a lot of things" throughout the season. Along with the shoulder, Mayfield endured multiple lower-body injuries and could be seen visibly limping on fields, particularly during a loss at the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 28. 

Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt admitted last Friday the left shoulder harness Mayfield needed during the season "hindered" the quarterback. Keenum's latest comments further suggest head coach Kevin Stefanski and company should've rested Mayfield via at least a three-game stint on the injured reserve list in late October or November.