Baker Mayfield created an uncomfortable situation for the Cleveland Browns following Sunday’s game when he said an injury that Odell Beckham Jr suffered during the preseason has not been handled properly, and the team is now facing similar allegations from a former player.
Former NFL wide receiver Jaelen Strong, who spent the majority of training camp with the Browns before the season, took to Twitter on Tuesday to vent about his experiences with the team. The former third-round pick signed with Cleveland after missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL, and he says his knee kept swelling up after the Browns held padded practices for 30 days straight. He called that schedule “UNHEARD OF” and said team doctors knew how bad his knee was getting and ignored it.
“And not once did I complain nor sit out after their docs knew how bad my knee swelled up day after day,” Strong wrote. “Not one time did anybody offer a rest day or anything but I’m tough right? Lol so f— it.”
Strong said he could “barely walk” by the time the third preseason game came around, and he believes the Browns used the injury as an excuse to cut him after their rigorous practice schedule contributed to his condition.
We get to week 3 of preseason and I can barely walk… I’m in treatment everyday so don’t say I am not… I’m trying to do all the right things. I played bad against TB. I was dead.. body legs etc. one of the worse things I put on tape I can attest to.. but the browns….
— Strizzy (@JaelenStrong) December 10, 2019
Knew why I looked and felt the way I felt after making play after play in camp for 30 straight padded practices. I mean why post me all over ya social media to get me familiar w ya fans just to release me???….
— Strizzy (@JaelenStrong) December 10, 2019
I feel like I was never in the plans and my camp play shocked them and forced them to do something they really ain’t wanna do and just blame it on me not being on SPT after all I think I made the effort to know the SPT Coach more well than most players just from OTA and camp….
— Strizzy (@JaelenStrong) December 10, 2019
Plenty of players don’t make the 53-man roster out of training camp because of injuries, but Strong’s allegations that the Browns’ doctors essentially ignored his injury are troubling.
Mayfield quickly apologized for throwing his team’s medical staff under the bus, but Strong’s claims make Mayfield’s even more noteworthy. Beckham has not commented on the handling of his sports hernia, but it certainly doesn’t seem like he’s happy in Cleveland.
