Todd Bowles Gives Detailed Update on Baker Mayfield’s Shoulder Injury

The injury woes have continued for Tampa Bay. 

At halftime, Baker Mayfield exited the team’s 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a left shoulder injury.

He was seen on the sideline wearing street clothes and an arm sling in the second half. 

As NBC Sports noted, head coach Todd Bowles confirmed postgame that Mayfield suffered a left shoulder sprain and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the damage.

“He’s sore. It’s a sprain for now, but we’ll know a lot more after the MRI,” 

Bowles added that Mayfield “re-aggravated it on the last play,” despite initially insisting he could play through it.  

“That’s who he is. But we weren’t putting him back out there like that.”

The injury occurred on the final play of the first half, capping off a difficult night for both Mayfield and a Buccaneers team that unravelled quickly on national TV. 

Mayfield was visibly bothered by the injury earlier in the second quarter. 

He was seen clutching his non-throwing shoulder after scrambling for two straight first downs. 

Despite taking several hard hits, he stayed in the game until a deep Hail Mary attempt before halftime left him on the turf in clear pain. 

“Right now he has a shoulder sprain,” Bowles said. “He’ll get an MRI tomorrow.”

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Bowles Shows Confidence in Teddy Bridgewater

With Mayfield sidelined at halftime, veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stepped in. 

Bridgewater finished 8-of-15 for 62 yards while taking two sacks behind a struggling offensive line. 

He was thrust into a nearly impossible situation with his team down 31-7 on the road with the Rams’ pass rush in full attack mode. 

Bowles praised the poise and experience Bridgewater brought under difficult circumstances.

“Teddy knows what to do. He’s been around this league a long time,” Bowles said.

“It’s not easy to come off the bench cold in that environment, but he handled himself well.”

The head coach made clear that if Mayfield misses any time, the team believes Bridgewater can run the offense effectively with a full week of preparation.

“If Baker is out, Teddy will be the guy. We’re very confident in him,” Bowles emphasized.

“With a full week of practice, taking every snap, he’ll be fine. He sees the field well, he understands protections, and the guys trust him.” 

Bowles also indicated the Bucs will likely elevate practice-squad quarterback Connor Bazelak if Mayfield is unavailable. 

But he reinforced Bridgewater’s role as the clear next man up.

“Teddy’s been in these situations before. He prepares like a starter every week, and that’s why we brought him here.”

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Season Outlook: Buccaneers in a Tight NFC South Race

Sunday’s loss dropped Tampa Bay to 6-5. 

This team has battled injuries all season long and after tonight it has only gotten worse. 

The Bucs have now lost four of their last five games and are currently tied for first place in the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers. 

The Panthers play tomorrow night on Monday Night Football against the 49ers. A Carolina win would put them in sole possession of first place. 

Despite all the injuries and recent struggles, the Bucs still control their own destiny as they still play the Panthers twice in the last six games of the season. 

The next few days will be critical as the team awaits the MRI results on Mayfield. 

A short-term absence would allow Tampa Bay to tread water with an experienced veteran under center. 

A longer one could reshape the NFC South race entirely. 

For now, the Buccaneers can do nothing but wait for clarity on their franchise quarterback’s shoulder. 

Bowles and the coaching staff must prepare for the possibility that Bridgewater may be leading the offense in the weeks ahead. 

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