Mayfield clearly didn’t want to use his accumulated ailments as any sort of performance excuse, but it’s worth noting that his completion percentage through the first six games was 66.2% before falling to 58.1% over the past two outings.
“It is not really an excuse, you just [have] to get used to it, figure it out and go from there,” said Mayfield of the oblique injury in particular. “Some throws, I did not have my feet perfect, they were not going to be accurate. Normally, I can make up for it with how I change my arm angle and stuff like that. Some of it was different, but you just have to live and learn.”
As for the scrambling – Mayfield averaged 26.3 rushing yards per game through the first six weeks but had zero combined in the last two contests – he said the injuries played a part but the more significant factor was defensive strategies.
“A little bit of both,” he said. “Detroit did a great job with their pass rush lanes and also the spy — the scheme overall. New Orleans did not do that as much, but [I] just have to get the ball out on time. Some of the lanes were there, but also was able to get the throws out in scramble drill instead of taking off and running. A little bit of both, but mostly schematically.”
Mayfield was a full participant in practice on Wednesday though he is still listed with both the knee and the oblique issues on the injury report. As is the case with many, many players across the NFL, he may be working his way through aches and pains for the remainder of the season. For now, though, the hope is that the extra rest – and one weekend without taking any hits – provided by a bye week will have him closer to his peak as the second half begins with a visit from the New England Patriots.