Buccaneers Injury Report Raises Major Concerns for Key Players Ahead of Panthers Showdown

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season has unraveled in frustrating fashion over the past two months.

And Tuesday’s injury report only added another layer of concern. 

In a surprise development, quarterback Baker Mayfield was added to the report with a right shoulder injury to go along with a knee issue. 

Additionally, star left tackle Tristan Wirfs and veteran cornerback Jamel Dean were among several key players who did not participate at all on Tuesday. 

The report comes just days before Tampa Bay hosts the Carolina Panthers in a game that could determine the NFC South champion

For a Buccaneers team that has lost seven of its last eight games, the timing could not be worse. 

---

A Growing Bucs Injury List 

Mayfield was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice with injuries to his throwing shoulder and knee. 

These are both new additions that immediately raised concerns. 

The late-season appearance of a right shoulder issue is notable given how banged up he has been throughout the year. 

But there’s no indication yet that his availability for Saturday is in jeopardy,

Mayfield has now appeared on the injury report ten times this season for different things, including knee, biceps, oblique, illness, and earlier shoulder issues. 

He’s been on the injury report six times since Week 10. 

Wirfs, meanwhile, was again listed as a DNP with a lingering toe injury. 

He missed Tampa Bay’s Week 17 loss to Miami and remains in danger of missing another must-win game.

Dean also did not participate on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury after leaving last week’s game early. 

This further thins a secondary that has struggled in recent weeks without Zyon McCollum, who is on injured reserve.  

Other non-participants included Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and Anthony Nelson (knee).

 Luke Goedeke and Calijah Kancey were also on the report listed as limited. 

Injuries continue to pile up at key positions, and it’s made stability hard to come by for a team that has lost seven of its last eight games. 

---

Wirfs and Mayfield Continue to Fight Through Injuries 

The impact of Wirfs’ absence was glaring in Week 17.  

Without their All-Pro left tackle, the Bucs struggled offensively against the Dolphins with three turnovers. 

Mayfield was sacked three times and the Bucs only averaged 3.3 yards per carry on the ground. 

Many believe that Wirfs is the engine and the most important piece of this Bucs offense. 

His abscence has been a big part of the team’s offensive struggles.

While a DNP doesn’t necessarily mean he will be out on Saturday, his status will need to move in the right direction in the next three days. 

Mayfield’s recent struggles can’t be pinned entirely on injuries, but it’s becoming harder to ignore how much he’s playing through. 

After a strong start to the season that briefly placed him in the MVP conversion, his efficiency and decision-making have declined massively over the past two months. 

A compromised shoulder and knee only add more context to his drop off as he continues to try and play through injuries. 

With questions swirling around the futures of both Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers enter Saturday in a true must-win scenario. 

Even a win may not be enough, as Tampa Bay would still need the Saints to beat the Falcons to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.

This article was originally published on Heavy Sports

The post Buccaneers Injury Report Raises Major Concerns for Key Players Ahead of Panthers Showdown appeared first on Heavy Sports.