When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trounced on Sunday Night Football by the Los Angeles Rams, something even more concerning than the on-field product popped up on the sidelines: star quarterback Baker Mayfield in a sling.
Mayfield suffered an injury in his left shoulder during the first half and did not play in the second half as Teddy Bridgewater filled in for the injured QB. Mayfield has been a catalyst for the Buccaneers this season, one of the main reasons they’ve been able to tread water with the other injury issues they’ve faced. Losing him would turn the rest of Tampa’s season into a massive uphill climb.
Fortunately for the Bucs, Mayfield seems to have avoided anything serious, and is expected to play Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals.
Mayfield didn’t practice on Wednesday before being upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday. He was a full-go Friday and all seems to be in line for the veteran QB to play against the Cardinals.
Buccaneers Getting Reinforcements Against Arizona
With Baker Mayfield set to play Sunday, Tampa Bay will also be getting a couple of key players back for the game.
Running back Bucky Irving and linebacker Haason Reddick will play on Sunday.
Irving has missed over two months with shoulder and foot injuries, and the Buccaneers run game has suffered because of it. Rachaad White hasn’t been able to provide the upside Irving brings, while Sean Tucker, outside of one game against Buffalo, hasn’t been a world-beater.
Irving rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season in 2024, while proving to be a great pass-catching back as well. His versatility completely transforms the Buccaneers offense.
Reddick has missed the last four games with ankle and knee injuries, a stretch where the Tampa defense has allowed 124 points. The former pro-bowler will give the Buccaneers a huge upgrade in their pass rush this weekend.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin also returned from injury last week, but only caught two passes for nine yards on four targets. Bucs fans are hoping he has an elevated role this week against a middling Arizona secondary.
Buccaneers Looking to Extend NFC South Lead
Tampa Bay looked like it was going to run away with the NFC South early in the season as it got out to a 6-2 start while Carolina, Atlanta, and New Orleans all faltered. The Bucs have now lost three straight though, and have just a half game lead ahead of a streaky Carolina team.
The good news for Tampa is that they have escaped their mid-season gauntlet. They faced Detroit, New England, Buffalo, and the Los Angeles Rams in a six week stretch, all of which ended with losses.
The Buccaneers will now finish their season with contests against 3-8 Arizona, 2-9 New Orleans, 4-7 Atlanta, 4-7 Miami, and Carolina twice. With three games before the first game against the Panthers, a three game winning streak would take a lot of pressure off of that matchup.
Bucs-Cardinals will kick off at 1 p.m. in Tampa Bay with the Bucs sitting at three and a half point favorites.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Buccaneers Get Final Injury Update On Baker Mayfield appeared first on Heavy Sports.