Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield limited, key Tampa defenders sidelined as Carolina Panthers game looms.
The latest injury report is out ahead of Saturday's Buccaneers-Panthers game, and the biggest question is surrounding quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield showed up on Tuesday's injury report with right shoulder and knee injuries, and he was limited in practice.
The bad news for Bucs fans in Wednesday's update is that Mayfield is still on the injury report after another limited practice. The good news is that things don't appear to have gotten worse.
There's nothing that indicates Mayfield won't be available for Saturday's do-or-die regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers. How much his injuries will affect his play is the bigger question.
Five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tristian Wirfs (turf toe) didn't practice. One of the best tackles in football, Pro Football Focus grades Wirfs as the league's fifth-best pass blocker, having allowed just 22 pressures in 445 pass-blocking snaps this season.
“Never had turf toe before, so I feel bad,” Wirfs told reporters Wednesday. “I used to make fun of people with it. It sucks. But I’m feeling all right.”
Wirfs tore a ligament under his big toe late in Tampa’s Dec. 21 game against Carolina, .
“We got an injection, and we’ll be good,” Wirfs said.
Although Wirfs is insistent on playing, he made it clear he’s in pain.
“They have to come up with a new name (for turf toe). They need to. Because it sucks. It’s not fun.”
The good news is that, for the first time in almost a months, the Bucs won’t be playing on turf.
“We’re on grass,” Wirfs said. “Raymond James (Stadium) is grass, so it will feel a little bit better.”
Other injuries of note: defensive back Jameel Dean didn't practice after sustaining a shoulder injury during Sunday's loss to the Dolphins in Miami.
Dean is Tampa's highest-graded defender per Pro Football Focus.
Offensive tackle Luke Goedeke was a limited participant with an ankle injury. Goedeke missed almost half the season on injured reserve, but returned in November to help stabilize the offensive line.
Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey tore his pectoral muscle in Week 2 and hasn't played since. He returned to practice from IR last week, but didn't play against Miami. On Wednesday, he was a limited participant.
For Carolina, it looks like 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle will be good to go. Dowdle didn't participate in Tuesday's practice, but was a full go on Wednesday.
Here's the full injury report for both teams.
Buccaneers Injury Report:*
- *Did Not Participate (DNP):*
- CB Jamel Dean (shoulder)
- CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring)
- OLB Anthony Nelson (knee)
- OL Tristan Wirfs (toe)
- *Limited Participation (LP):*
- T Luke Goedeke (ankle)
- DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral)
- QB Baker Mayfield (right shoulder, knee)
- *Full Participation (FP):*
- TE Devin Culp (knee)
*Panthers Injury Report:*
- *Did Not Participate (DNP):*
- LB Krys Barnes (back)
- LB Claudin Cherelus (calf/ankle)
- RB Rico Dowdle (toe)
- CB Robert Rochell (concussion)
- TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (fibula)
- *Limited Participation (LP):*
- G Rob Hunt (IR, biceps)
- WR David Moore (IR, elbow)
- DT Turk Wharton (hamstring)