BEREA, Ohio -- Baker Mayfield will start his first NFL game Thursday night for the Browns against the Lions, and his last one for a long time if all goes as planned.

"I'm very ready,'' said Mayfield. "It's another opportunity for me. I've been saying it over and over again, I need to take advantage of my opportunities, and this is a great one to come out and show what I can do from the get-go, set the tone not just for the offense but for the whole team just kind of mindset-wise and just executing."

The fact that he won't start again for awhile as long as Taylor stays healthy and effective doesn't faze him.

"No, I take it one day at a time,'' he said. "I always put 100 percent in every opportunity I get, so I'm going to treat this one the same as I would any other just because if I went into it with that mindset that this is my last time, I might try to do something different than just my job so I need to settle in and just do my job."



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He's not having a tough time fading into the background, where he'll run the scout team for the Browns' defense and no longer be in the spotlight.



"They told me from the get-go, from back when I was still just doing the interviews and the visits that they had a plan,'' he said. "They had a plan in place of what they wanted to do and they've been very honest. So I've known that from the get-go and I've been a team guy always and I knew my role once I got here is to help change this thing around and help us win, so right now it's getting my reps and getting better but also doing (play) cards against the defense."

It's a far cry from Mayfield's bravado at the NFL Combine in March, when he said he was just the man for the Browns' 0-16 ills.

And why did he think at the time that he was the right man for the job?

"Accuracy,'' he said. "I can make any throw. Winning is most important, but the way I've been able to get my guys around me to play, not just the offensive players around, the 10 guys, but the defensive players, special teams. The energy I bring, the passion I bring, it's infectious. You can ask anybody on that Oklahoma staff. That's what I bring to the table."

All of that has proven true in camp and preseason games, but the Browns have never wavered for a moment from their plan to start Taylor and, they hope, redshirt Mayfield for the most of the season.

"It will be different for him,'' said Jackson. "It's my job to just keep creating an environment for him here in practice. I'll always find ways to make sure that he gets extra practice as we go throughout the season. That's what is going to get him to where he needs to be. He's going to see a lot of different defenses that we will face. He'll see things totally different. It'll be kind of foreign to him. My job is to keep creating an environment for him to keep growing.''

In addition to those extra sessions, Mayfield will run the scout team against the Browns' defense, simulating Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees and the opposing QB every week.

In those instances, he'll still face the likes of Myles Garrett.

"He has been seeing a lot of Myles Garrett,'' said Jackson. "Those things will help him.''

Mayfield acknowledged that facing Garrett, who's healthy and on his game this preseason, will prepare him for anything.

"Anytime you play a guy like that in practice every day, it's going to make you better,'' he said. "That's why you want to compete against the best because you want to be the best.''

Mayfield's composure when he replaced the injured Taylor (bruised left hand) unexpectedly Thursday night convinced Jackson that he can handle the pressure.

"Absolutely,'' he said. "You don't want those things to happen, but at the same time, it was good for me to see that. To watch him and say, 'You're up. It's time to go.' He didn't blink. He was like, 'OK, let's go.' I know that he was disappointed in himself - that's just him - with what he did in the game. I thought he did some really good things. I feel good about that as we head into the season."

Jackson knows he'd have to dial back the offense a bit for Mayfield, but believes he's ready for the backup job, even he's called upon against the Steelers in Week 1.

"Everybody's different,'' said Jackson. "Baker certainly has the characteristics that if called on to play, he could. We would just have to fashion an offense that fits him and gives him an opportunity to be successful. He has done everything that we have asked him to do thus far. Tyrod is the starter. Baker has done some great things, and he is going to play on Thursday night."

Mayfield was disappointed to see Taylor leave the game, but grateful for a chance to get thrown into the fire. In his two series with and against the first-teamers, Mayfield completed 2-of-5 attempts for 19 yards and a 51.2 rating.

"That just goes to show that I have to be ready,'' he said. "It's been that way since middle school so it was just another showcase that I was able to take advantage of."

Thursday night against the Lions, where Mayfield will play with mostly second-teamers, he hopes to correct some of the mistakes he made in the 5-0 victory over the Eagles, including his red zone interception on his fifth and final drive.

"Yeah, take care of the ball, and get the ball out quicker and quicker,'' he said. "Like I said about starting, it's a good opportunity to kind of set the tone so that means command of the offense but also just being a leader out there for everybody.''



Mayfield, whose only first-team reps this preseason came on those two possessions vs. the Eagles, will have Antonio Callaway at his disposal in Detroit, because the rookie, who sat out the Eagles games with a groin injury, needs the playing time.



"(He's) made a lot of progress,'' said Mayfield. "We're very happy with where he's at right now. Just a talented guy, so I'm hoping he can make some big plays Thursday and we'll light em up. But we're looking forward to seeing all those guys out there. We feel like they've come a long way since where we started and that's good to see. Gotta keep getting better.''



Mayfield fans had better get a good look at him in Detroit, because it could be awhile before they see him again.



Or not.