Case Keenum spoke the word 'ready' six times in his first five sentences on a Zoom call with media Wednesday after being named Browns starting quarterback against the Denver Broncos. (Cleveland Browns)
Browns Case Keenum eager to sub for injured Baker Mayfield: ‘I am built for this.’
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Four downs on Browns (3-3) v. Denver Broncos (3-3)
First down: The case for Case.
Baker Mayfield’s 53 consecutive starts for the Browns (counting postseason) not only was the second-longest in franchise history to Brian Sipe’s 71, it was a streak that he fiercely protected. He was the last person convinced he wouldn’t play on Thursday night. Mayfield’s last missed game due to injury was in his walk-on freshman year at Texas Tech in 2013. When his knee injury healed, Mayfield’s job was given to freshman Davis Webb by coach Kliff Kingsbury. That’s why Mayfield transferred to Oklahoma and that’s why he fought hard to not miss this game after aggravating the torn labrum in his left shoulder against – ironically -- Kingsbury’s Arizona Cardinals. Mayfield doesn’t have to worry about Case Keenum being handed his job, but there is a good chance the lightly-used Keenum will perform more than adequately. Keenum, 33, has not started an NFL game since Dec. 29, 2019 with Washington. Keenum’s greatest year in 10 NFL seasons was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017 when he relieved injured Sam Bradford and won 12 of 16 starts, including two in the post-season. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was Vikings QB coach, and though that Viking offense run by Pat Shurmur, now the Broncos’ offensive coordinator, elements remain the same. Further, in that season, Keenum won two games against the Chicago Bears, whose defensive coordinator was Vic Fangio, now the Broncos head coach. So Keenum should be a quick study for this game despite the compressed work week. “I feel very ready,” Keenum said. “I have been ready. You do not have to get ready if you stay ready, and I have been ready since I got here. I am excited. I am ready.” He continued, “Even on a short week like this, I have done it a lot so I am excited with the guys out there. I know we are uncertain about a lot of the guys who will be out there, but I am built for this. This is what I have done my whole career of not knowing if I am going to start up until game time to not knowing who is out there with me to introducing myself to players while I am calling a play type stuff. I am excited. What better chance to take advantage of an opportunity than on Thursday Night Football? I know these opportunities do not come around very often to be a starting quarterback in this league – only 32 per week – so I am ready to take advantage of it.”
Second down: Injuries du jour of the week.
The Browns’ offense may resemble a starting lineup for a Week 1 preseason game. Keenum will be without the top two running backs for sure and possibly the top two offensive tackles and top two wide receivers. Running backs Nick Chubb (calf) and Kareem Hunt (calf) are the only ones definitely declared out. They’ll be replaced by D’Ernest Johnson on run plays and Demetric Felton on passing options. Offensive tackles Jedrick Wills (ankle) and Jack Conklin (knee), who missed the last game, were able to have limited participation in Wednesday’s light practice and were listed as questionable. Blake Hance and James Hudson would fill in, if necessary. Receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) and Jarvis Landry (knee) are iffy. Beckham did not participate in anything all week and was questionable. Landry has not been fully activated to the roster after missing four games. Donovan Peoples-Jones, who’s come on with two fine games, and Rashard Higgins would be the substitutes. Also, Johnny Stanton is filling in for IR’d starting fullback Andy Janovich. The only semi-healthy regulars are interior linemen Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter and Wyatt Teller; and tight ends Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.
Third down: No excuses for Joe Woods’ defense.
It’s time for the Browns’ highly-paid defense to pay some dividends. It has had two good games out of six played. The last two have been embarrassments, as six of eight touchdown passes allowed have been uncontested with no defenders within 10 yards of the receivers. This side of the ball is much healthier than the offense. So there is no excuse. There is also no elite quarterback on the field for Denver. The Browns have been torched by Patrick Mahomes, Tyrod Taylor (for one half), Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray. The defense had good games against raw rookie Justin Fields and Kirk Cousins. Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is universally respected for coming back from a devasting knee injury that caused him to miss essentially the 2016 and 2017 seasons, but he is not going to torch a secondary. The Raiders’ pass rush hit Bridgewater 20 times in his last game and it resulted in four turnovers. If the Browns’ defense allows Bridgewater to dictate this game and emerge victorious, the seat on which Woods sits will only get hotter.
Fourth down: This one’s for John.
John Elway’s association with the Broncos is coming to an end, which is a merciful thing for the Browns. Elway was removed as Broncos GM last season and is taking a final lap in a semi-retirement front office position. When the Broncos are sold, possibly before the 2022 season, Elway’s tenure with the franchise officially will end. Elway, of course, tormented the Browns as a quarterback, famously beginning with the 1986 AFC Championship Game in Cleveland, but historically starting with a regular-season win in 1984. Elway’s hex on the Browns continued in his GM years, starting in 2011, though to a lesser degree. The bottom line is this: Since Elway joined the Broncos in 1983, they have won 8 of 9 games in Cleveland. (Overall, the Broncos are 11-2 in Cleveland.) The only time Elway lost in Cleveland was in 1989, 16-13, when Bud Carson’s defense stifled him and denizens in the Dawg Pound pelted him with dog biscuits and other debris, causing game officials to change the direction of the field so that Broncos’ offense did not have to operate near the Dawg Pound.
The pick: Browns 20, Broncos 17.
My record: 4-2.
