Just as the Jaguars were being with Trevor Lawrence, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are being cautious with Baker Mayfield. With both teams featured on Thursday Night Football in consecutive weeks, it’s quite notable that their starting quarterbacks have each dealt with knee injuries.
As for Mayfield, it appears to be a pain-tolerance issue, but that seemingly hasn’t put his status in doubt for Thursday’s game. The Bucs’ starting quarterback popped up on Monday’s injury report with a knee injury, though, it should be noted that the injury report was estimated, as Tampa Bay held a walkthrough following its Week 7 loss to the Falcons.
“Yesterday it was pretty sore,” Mayfield said, via NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. “Less than 24 hours after the game, that’s kinda how it always goes. Just re-aggravated what I had against the Saints. Nothing too bad, just pain tolerance and move on.”
On Tuesday, Mayfield was listed as a “limited participant” in practice due to said knee injury.
Bucs G Matt Feiler (knee) did not participate in practice and could miss Thursday’s game. DT Vita Vea (groin) also was out. QB Baker Mayfield (knee) was limited. pic.twitter.com/8xdVAaXqtM
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 24, 2023
Those in the NFL world were quick to react as Mayfield’s injury has many questioning his status for Thursday’s game.
For TNF in Week 8, I expect #GoBucs Chris Godwin (neck) and Baker Mayfield (knee) to both play, while #BillsMafia is undergoing wrist surgery and will be out at the minimum of a couple weeks. https://t.co/kJxziYkQim
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) October 24, 2023
Ok so we’ll loose to Kyle Trask now cool👍 https://t.co/BFF973OWsg
— Can’t get it together if you never had it🦬 (@PanchoPowerEra) October 24, 2023
Hes gonna re-aggravate the fans if he plays that poor again
— Shane Miller (@realgrux) October 24, 2023
Not much practice time this week (if any) with a flight to Buffalo tomorrow. Key players banged up #Bucs https://t.co/XzOyR5jFhM
— Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) October 24, 2023
Baker will be fine for Thursday. https://t.co/cizygsb6eF
— Matthew Hewitt (@BucsTrackerNFL) October 23, 2023
It sure seems like Mayfield will be ready to go for Thursday’s game.
In six starts (3-3 record) for Tampa Bay, Mayfield has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 1,363 yards with eight touchdowns against four interceptions. After getting off to a 3-1 start, the Bucs have dropped two straight (losses to Detroit, and Atlanta). In Mayfield’s last two games, the veteran QB has completed just 46-of-79 passes (58.2 percent) for 481 yards with one touchdown against two interceptions.
Cleary, the knee injury—which he suffered against New Orleans in Week 4—has hampered him to some degree. It remains to be seen how limited Mayfield will be by the lower-body injury come Thursday night.
[PFT]
