The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have avoided disaster — and a lost season — in regards to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury.
Mayfield injured his shoulder in the first half of a 34-7, Week 12 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams and was able to get results from an MRI exam just one day later.
“The MRI for Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (AC joint sprain) showed no additional damage, per sources,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Monday, November 24. “So, his status remains the same, uncertain for Week 13 but without long-term concern.”
Mayfield has started 45 consecutive regular season and playoff games since becoming Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback before the 2023 season.
“Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, who went down on Sunday with a sprained left shoulder, has a low-grade sprain, source said following the MRI,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “Good news with an eye toward next week … In the words of one source, ‘As good as anyone could hope.’ “
It was the third consecutive loss for the Buccaneers, dropping them to 6-5 after starting the season 5-1. It also dropped Tampa Bay into a first place tie with the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South Division.
Veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater filled in during the second half against the Rams as Mayfield watched from the sideline in street clothes and with his left arm in a sling.
Mayfield was initially injured at the end of a run then further aggravated the injury on a failed Hail Mary attempt to end the first half and with the Buccaneers trailing 31-7.
After back-to-back road games the Buccaneers return home in Week 13 to face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football.
Bridgewater Not What Bucs Want as Starting QB
If Mayfield can’t play, even for one game, the Buccaneers could be facing a tough road with Bridgewater as their starting quarterback for any extended period of time.
Bridgewater, 33 years old, is a former first round pick (No. 32 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2014 NFL draft and was actually a surprise addition to the roster this season. The Buccaneers didn’t even sign Bridgewater until August 5 and it only took him 3 weeks to beat out incumbent backup quarterback Kyle Trask.
Bridgewater hasn’t started a game since 2022, when he went 0-2 with the Miami Dolphins.
“You cannot tell me that Teddy Bridgewater is currently better than Kyle Trask,” CBS Sports’ Jake Winderman wrote on X.
Bridgewater hasn’t been a full time starter since he went 7-7 in 14 starts with the Denver Broncos in 2021 but is 33-32 as a starter in 11 NFL seasons.
“It’s largely a pain management concern for Baker Mayfield and an AC joint sprain his non-throwing shoulder,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account. “Not necessarily back Sunday but fortunate to avoid a longterm absence.”
“It will be a pain management issue so it remains to be seen if (Mayfield) can play Sunday,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account. “But overall not the worse news for sure.”
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