CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It didn't take long for the Browns' No. 1 to move up to No. 2: Baker Mayfield was promoted to second-team offense in the third and final week of OTAs.



After working with the third team behind Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton for the first two weeks of OTAs, Mayfield served as the backup QB Tuesday in the one session of the week open to the media.

"I just mixed it up,'' Jackson said after practice. "There's nothing behind that. I just want to keep tinkering with that a little bit. I made a decision this week with the staff to make him second and get him some reps there and that's just going to go as we go. There's nothing to it, nobody should read into it. It's an opportunity to go out there a little bit sooner than he has, that's all.''

Jackson said the promotion, whether permanent or not, doesn't increase Mayfield's reps, just the caliber of his supporting cast.

"Honestly, they were getting the same,'' said Jackson. "That didn't change. It's just now you're throwing to probably a different group of receivers because I think he has to have that chemistry with all of the guys, so it was good for him to do that. He did some good things today.''

He said he hasn't yet decided the QB rotation for training camp, but that it's nice not to be dividing the first-team reps this year like he did his first two seasons.

"We have a starting quarterback,'' he said. "Tyrod has still got to get those reps, those reps are really important. Tyrod is the starter. He goes with the ones all the time and with Baker we're bringing him along. We're teaching him the National Football League. He's done an outstanding job, working hard every day and making the most of his reps, but it is comforting to know for our team that we do have a starting quarterback.''

Mayfield, who struggled on the first day of OTAs open to the media but has gotten consistently better, is excited to move up in the rotation.

"It's a good opportunity for me to get different reps with the different guys,'' he said. "You want to learn your players, you want to learn your receivers, what they're good at and get timing down with them. It's just an opportunity to get a feel for everybody and get comfortable with the team.''

He was glad to shake off that initial bad day, in which he threw three interceptions (two off deflections) and had two more dropped.

"I don't think I'd be here if that was a typical day at work just to be quite honest with you,'' he said. "I hold myself to higher standard. That was definitely one of the worst days I've had. I've had a couple more bad ones but like I said, it's not going to be perfect. That's why we're here practicing. That's why it's only the beginning of June. I've got some time to learn and keep growing.''

Jackson said Mayfield has made tremendous strides in his main area of weakness.

"For Baker, it's been playing under center because that's something he hasn't done,'' he said. "As you see, we haven't had any balls on the ground, no wood to knock on. So he's done a good job that way.''

The bump to No. 2 comes just before the Browns head into mandatory full-squad minicamp next week, where the intensity and pace will pick up.

"For me, it's not looking at it like that,'' he said "I'm just looking to improve every day. With minicamp coming up, doing it in longer days and more walkthroughs, meetings, I'm just looking forward to that. It's more knowledge, more time to learn. Every day is an opportunity.''

Mayfield acknowledged that the learning curve has been a little steeper than anticipated. In a goal-line team drill on Tuesday, he rolled right and hit receiver C.J. Board with a TD pass in the back of the end zone. On another occasion, when the play broke down, he pulled it in and peeled off a long run. He also completed a short ball to Corey Coleman, who sprinted another 12 yards for a TD.

A couple of his passes were dropped, and he would've been sacked on at least two occasions. He was also almost picked off once by cornerback E.J. Gaines. But he completed some nice passes, including one on a deep seam route to tight end Darren Fells. Working against better defensive competition was just as beneficial to him as throwing to better receivers.

"I set my own expectation,'' he said. "I don't listen to anybody else's, that's how I always have been. And so for me, the pace has been a little bit slower than I really wanted it. There's always bumps in the road, it's not going to be perfect, that's for sure.

"You're learning a new offense and going up against the best competition possible. So, yeah, there's been a learning curve. But I've made some strides within the past week of practice that I'm proud of, and that's all I can continue to do is keep striving and make a couple more.''