Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s availability was uncertain after a left-shoulder injury knocked him out of the Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With the NFC South race tightening, getting their leader back becomes critical. Will he be ready for the Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals?
Baker Mayfield Injury Update
Mayfield suffered the injury on a scramble late in the second quarter against the Rams and briefly exited before attempting to return. He tried playing through it, but a deep throw just before halftime seemed to worsen the issue.
He was ruled out soon after and finished the afternoon watching from the sideline with his left arm in a sling. Early tests indicated a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder.
Before exiting, Mayfield struggled to play well. He completed nine of 19 passes for 41 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. An MRI on Monday confirmed a low-grade AC joint sprain, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The injury was considered day-to-day, and the Buccaneers “are not ruling him out” for Week 13.
After missing practice on Wednesday, Mayfield was upgraded to limited in practice on Thursday, offering some hope for the weekend.
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On Saturday, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed that Mayfield will play this week. “Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a left shoulder injury, is expected to play vs. the Cardinals, per source,” he wrote on X.
If Mayfield was not available, Bridgewater would have taken the first-team reps and made his first start since Week 17 of the 2022 season.
The Buccaneers’ offense has hit a rough patch lately. They ranked in the bottom two of PFSN’s Offense Impact (OFFi) rating in Week 12, posting an impact score of 61.2 and a D- grade against the Rams. That marks the third time in the last five games they have graded out at a D+ or worse.
Defensively, things aren’t much better. After giving up 44 points to the Buffalo Bills and 34 to the Rams, the unit rated as the worst defense in PFSN’s Defense Impact (DEFi) rating for Week 12.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Insights for Week 13
Team:Â The Buccaneers finish with six games, with four against teams with a losing record and two games against the 6-6 Panthers.
QB: Teddy Bridgewater has not started a game since Week 17 of the 2022 season, when he was with the Dolphins.
Offense:Â Tampa Bay recorded an OFFi score of 61.2 (D-) against the Rams in Week 12. The Buccaneers have received a D+ or worse in three of the last five games.
Defense:Â The Buccaneers have graded at a D level the last two weeks against the Bills and Rams. Tampa Bay gave up 44 points against Buffalo and 34 against Los Angeles in two losses.
Fantasy: Baker Mayfield gets hurt, and Chris Godwin returns: Emeka Egbuka has hit 60 receiving yards in just one of his past six games, and the situation around him is trending away from him.
