After a week of concern and contingency plans, Baker Mayfield is poised to start after all in what the Buc quarterback calls a must-win game Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
The news follows Friday’s practice in which Mayfield mildly sprained left shoulder didn’t cause any issues. “He looked good today, so he’s trending to play,” head coach Todd Bowles said after the session.
Mayfield suffered the injury last Sunday in the 34-7 loss to the Rams and initially it appeared that he could miss at least one game, maybe more. But an MRI Monday revealed no serious damage and the third-year Buc improved throughout the week, giving the coach all the evidence he needed Friday to make a decision,
“He had to get well,” Bowles said. “He was very limited on Wednesday. He did a little more yesterday (and) he moved around perfectly today. He moved around, so he was fine.”
The news is doubly good for the Bucs, who will also get starting tailback Bucky Irving back in the lineup after a seven-game absence due to a foot and shoulder injury. On top of that, star wide receiver Chris Godwin, who returned to action last week after a fibula injury, has also looked good in practice and will see an increased role in the 1 p.m. home contest. Defensively, the Bucs will also be bolstered by the return of outside linebacker Haason Reddick, who had gotten off to a strong start before his ankle injury four weeks ago.
And after three straight losses to top-level teams from New England, Buffalo and Los Angeles – sporting a combined record of 26-8 – Tampa Bay finally gets a break against three teams with a combined 9-25 record. Arizona has lost three in a row to fall to 3-8, and the Bucs’ next two games are at home against struggling NFC South Division foes: the Saints (2-9) on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. and the Falcons (4-7) Thursday, Dec. 11 at 8:15.
That said, neither Mayfield nor anyone on the Bucs are taking the Cardinals lightly.
"Where we are at right now, we're viewing the rest of these games as must-win situations,” Mayfield said. “(It’s) just where we're at. I know it's not, theoretically, but that's how we're viewing it (and) how we're approaching it.”
Added Bowles: "We control our own destiny. We've got our own problems, we've got our own solutions, and we can fix everything ourselves. We've got three games in 18 days, and we just have to take them one at a time and go from there."
Despite their recent struggles, the Cardinals are guided by an experienced quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, who took over in October for injured starter Kyler Murray. In six games, the 10th-year pro haa passed for 1,887 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions and a 97.0 quarterback rating, while gaining 100 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
Brissett will do his best to test the Bucs’ pass defense – leading the NFL with 43.2 attempts per game and has numerous targets, such as standout tight end Trey McBride (80 catches for seven touchdowns), wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., (34 catches for 525 yards and four TDs), and Michael Wilson (47 grabs for 534 yards). Harrison missed the last two games after undergoing an emergency appendectomy but returned to practice this week and is listed as questionable. If he can’t play, wide receiver Greg Dortch will likely fill the gap as he did last week, responding with six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
“Obviously, Kyler is a better runner, but Jacoby can throw the ball,” Bowles said. “He’s been around a long time, and he’s listed as a backup but he’s really a starter. He plays quality minutes. He’s been in this league a long time, he can really throw the football, and he’s a very sneaky scrambler as well. ... They got behind a couple of times the past few games where they had to throw it, but they have a very good running offense. They’re very scrappy on defense and can make plays.”
On that front, the Cardinals can present problems, especially with outside linebacker Josh Sweat (9 sacks), 18-year veteran lineman Calais Campbell (5 sacks at age 39) and safety Budda Baker, who has played his entire nine-year career with Arizona.
“Yeah, I would say this – their record is not indicative of the kind of performance they show on tape,” said offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. “So, when you see that, you see a lot of games that have been under seven points, and they didn’t come out on the right end of it on their side of it but you see a bunch of ability.
“I think with what Coach (Nick) Rallis does with this scheme (is) very unique in how they deploy different personnel groupings,” Grizzard continued. “… The fact that Calais Campbell is still playing at the level that he’s playing at is hats off to him. Sweat does a really good job coming off the edge. ... Then, you see these rookies that are playing on the perimeter – these guys (have) got some ball production (and) turn the ball over really well. Then, I don’t (mean to) mention him last, but the one that makes it go is Budda– and he is flying around. He’s still playing at a very high level. … These guys play hard.”
Should there be any late change in Mayfield’s status, the Bucs will go with their backup plan and start journeyman Teddy Bridgewater, who practiced with the first team this week. Though it’s now doubtful they would need to, they could then elevate quarterback Connor Bazelak to the active roster by Saturday at 4 p.m. as Bridgewater’s backup.
But for now, after a week of consternation, it appears that the ball – and very possibly the Bucs’ fate Sunday – will be in Mayfield’s hands.