The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, have gotten off to a strong 3-1 start to the season. Their only blemish came in a Week 3 home loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, which left more than just their perfect record bruised.
Now, as they look ahead to Week 5, a growing list of injuries threatens to derail their momentum, and Mayfield himself is at the center of the team’s concerns.
16 Players Listed on Buccaneers Injury Report, Including QB Baker Mayfield
The Buccaneers have been dealing with injuries since the season began. Wide receiver Mike Evans has dealt with a hamstring issue, and fellow receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has been waiting to recover from an ankle injury fully. Additionally, key players like Calijah Kancey, Cody Mauch, Jalen McMillan, and Luke Goedeke have also been on the mend.
Tampa Bay’s first loss came against the Eagles, 25-11, in a game where Philadelphia got on the board first with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and never surrendered the lead. However, the team’s injury list grew significantly out of that contest.
According to Fox Sports NFL analyst Greg Auman, the Buccaneers listed 16 players on their injury report following Wednesday’s walkthrough practice. Nine did not practice at all, four were limited, and only three were full participants.
Most notably, Mayfield was among those who did not practice, as he is dealing with a knee and a right biceps injury. A starting quarterback’s absence from practice mid-week always raises concerns about his availability for the upcoming game. While Mayfield still has a couple of days to get back on the field, his status for Week 5 remains uncertain.
#UPDATE: Mayfield returned to practice on Thursday, which indicates that he will be ready to play in Week 5. “QB Baker Mayfield, T Tristan Wirfs, S Tykee Smith, WR Chris Godwin,LB Lavonte David, OLB Haason Reddick, DT Greg Gaines, DT Logan Hall are practicing,” wrote Buccaneers insider Rick Stroud on X. “RB Bucky Irving, CB Jamel Dean, CB Benjamin Morrison, WR Mike Evans were not during portion open to the media.”
Mayfield is known for his toughness and history of playing through injuries. The last game he missed due to injury was the regular-season finale in 2021 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which he sat out before undergoing surgery for a torn labrum sustained earlier that season. Before that, a knee injury forced him out of a Week 10 game against the New England Patriots in 2021.
The upcoming Week 5 game carries extra weight for Mayfield, as the Buccaneers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks. This matchup could feature a reunion with his former Carolina Panthers teammate, Sam Darnold.
In a press conference, Mayfield confirmed that he and Darnold still talk. When a reporter asked if they “reminisce on the good old days in Carolina,” Mayfield gave a memorable response: “Oh, nope. No, we don’t.”
The team hopes its starting quarterback will be ready as they aim to improve their record to 4-1.
