Baker Mayfield battles shoulder and knee injuries as the Buccaneers chase a playoff spot. His past struggles playing hurt raise questions about Saturday's crucial game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' QB Baker Mayfield was limited at practice Tuesday and is listed on the injury report with two injuries -- his shoulder and his knee.
It's hard to imagine Mayfield being anything but full-go for Saturday's do-or-die game against Carolina at Raymond James Stadium.
Mayfield has played hurt before, doing so for most of his last season with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. The bigger question is, how effective will Mayfield be? When he played hurt in 2021, he turned in arguably his worst statistical season.
Mayfield has since recovered and become one of the league's best quarterbacks ... when he's on his A-game.
The Bucs got the best version of Mayfield during the first half of the season. Through the first nine games, Mayfield had a TD/INT ratio of 16/2, and the Bucs had a 6-3 record.
In the seven games since, Mayfield has thrown only one more touchdown (nine) than interception (eight), and the Bucs have lost six of seven.
The latest setback came Sunday in Miami, where the Bucs lost 20-17 to the Dolphins, who now have the same 7-9 record.
Mayfield threw two picks -- one of them in the first half, which led to a Dolphins’ score, and another late in the game, with the Bucs trying to rally. He also suffered a strip sack, which put an end to another Bucs rally.
For Mayfield, everything "comes back to execution" on offense.
"We obviously gave ourselves a fighting chance right there," Mayfield told reporters after Sunday's loss at Hard Rock Stadium. "But, yeah, didn't do enough, and yeah, those turnovers obviously crushed us, so we have to come back."
Somehow, the Buccaneers are still alive for a playoff spot.
If the Bucs beat the Carolina Panthers at home Saturday (kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET), and the New Orleans Saints beat the Falcons on Sunday, Tampa Bay will win the NFC South at 8-9.
"Here's the thing, we still have a chance next week," Mayfield said. "We've been blessed with a chance next week, and guys need to handle it the right way."