TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles told the media on Friday that quarterback Baker Mayfield is on track to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Bowles added that Mayfield recovered satisfactorily. “He was very limited on Wednesday, he did a little more yesterday and today he moved perfectly, so he’s fine.” Mayfield suffered a low-grade sprain in the AC joint of his left shoulder, which is not his throwing shoulder, last week against the Los Angeles Rams, which forced him to miss the second half of the 34-7 loss, the Buccaneers’ third consecutive. Teddy Bridgewater, the backup, took most of the practice reps this week while Mayfield rested, and Mayfield said Wednesday that the pain was subsiding. An MRI revealed no structural damage. Mayfield emphasized that this is not the same injury he suffered with the Cleveland Browns in 2021, an injury for which he admitted, in retrospect, that he should not have played.He looked good today, so he’s on track to play.
Todd Bowles
Mayfield explained that the current injury is very different. “I completely dislocated my shoulder, had a labrum tear, a partial tear in the rotator cuff, and a fracture in the bone of the socket, so it’s very different. Now, it’s really about managing pain tolerance, being able to move and being able to throw and from there.” Mayfield commented that they see the next five games as “must-win situations.” In the NFC South, the Buccaneers are only half a game behind the Carolina Panthers, whom they will face twice in the coming weeks.I don’t think I was physically able to do the things I wanted in 2021 with a hurt shoulder. That’s the most important thing, I don’t want to hold this team back.
Baker Mayfield
