Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have entered a dangerous stage of their season, as every game is considered “must-win” if they are going to secure a postseason spot. The Bucs find themselves atop the NFC South, just slightly ahead of the Carolina Panthers. That being said, they will square off against the Panthers twice before the end of the year, which could dramatically shift the standings if the Buccaneers are unable to sort things out on their end.
Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, they have been hit with the injury bug all season long, with Baker Mayfield being the latest superstar to be sidelined. During the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield suffered a shoulder injury, leaving his availability for their Week 13 showdown with the Arizona Cardinals in question.
Baker Mayfield Opens Up About Shoulder Injury
Injuries have been a recurring issue for Mayfield throughout his career, with several occurring during his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, which may have given him some perspective on his current ailment.
Mayfield spoke to reporters on Wednesday, addressing several questions, including his current injury status. Even though Mayfield was able to avoid a more serious injury than initially thought, he gave an honest assessment of his situation.
“It’s there,” Baker said when asked about his pain level. “It’s decreasing for sure. It’s pain tolerance and management at that point. We’ll see how it goes throughout the week and go from there, but understanding that we have Teddy, and I have been in this spot before with the non-throwing shoulder. If it’s going to hinder how I play, then I probably won’t go, but we won’t know that until later in the week, getting practice reps and seeing how that goes,” he explained.
The Buccaneers would undoubtedly love to have Mayfield rolling for a pivotal NFC matchup against the Arizona Cardinals; however, if he is unable to perform, Teddy Bridgewater is a capable backup QB who could fill in. That being said, the Buccaneers need to put their best foot forward if they are going to snap their current 3-game losing streak.
“Where we’re at right now, we’re viewing the rest of these games as must-win situations; it’s just where we’re at. I know it’s not, theoretically, but that’s how we’re viewing it and how we are approaching it,” Mayfield continued.
Week 13 will see the Buccaneers offense looking to bounce back against a Cardinals defense that sits 22nd in the NFL according to PFSN’s Defense Impact rankings. This does not mean it will be an easy matchup; however, coming off a crushing defeat to the juggernaut Los Angeles Rams, the Bucs might be happy to welcome their next opponent to Raymond James Stadium.
