For a few minutes, it looked like the Steelers might be facing Baker Mayfield.
And hey, they still might.
Tyrod Taylor, the Browns' starting quarterback, injured his left, non-throwing hand in the first quarter of a preseason game Thursday night in Cleveland against the Eagles. The wrist appeared to crumple backward under his weight after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal and, after a few minutes down, he was helped off the field.
It's quick and hard to see but this looks bad for Tyrod's wrist pic.twitter.com/2duDp3CBL3
— Ian Wharton (@NFLFilmStudy) August 24, 2018
Minutes later, though, he returned to the sideline and, stunningly, right back into the meaningless game and led a field goal drive. Mayfield, who'd replaced him, came right back off.
Hue Jackson, the Browns' coach, told reporters in Cleveland, "We'll continue to look at it and see where we are as we head into next week. X-rays were negative, but I think it's important that we do everything we need to do to make sure exactly where that hand is."
If the Browns' situation stays status quo, the Steelers will face the veteran Taylor in the teams' season opener Sept. 9. If not, that assignment would go to Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft this year out of Oklahoma.
The Browns lost another first-round pick, cornerback Denzel Ward, the No. 4 overall pick, to a back injury. He was ruled out for the rest of the game. He's a projected starter on defense.
Jackson said both Taylor and Ward will be re-evaluated Friday.