Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was listed as having a new right shoulder injury during Tuesday’s practice report, just days before Tampa Bay’s showdown with the Carolina Panthers could decide the NFC South title.
The Buccaneers also listed Mayfield as having an undisclosed knee injury. Mayfield has been dealing with a left shoulder injury since the Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield left that game early but has played in every game since.
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His throwing shoulder and knee injuries listed Tuesday were new. Mayfield participated in practice injured and was listed as a limited participant.
Further details, including the nature of the injury or when Mayfield suffered the injury, are unclear. The Buccaneers initially did not provide additional information about the injury. In addition to listing him as restricted for practice.
Baker Mayfield is hobbled ahead of the Panthers’ high-stakes game against the Buccaneers on Saturday.
(Associated Press)
How will the injury impact the Buccaneers’ game against the Panthers on Saturday?
There is no indication that the injury will threaten Mayfield’s status for Saturday’s game against the Panthers. But it raises further concerns about a Buccaneers team that has struggled in the second half of the season and entered Week 18 having lost seven of its past eight games to relinquish control of the NFC South.
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Mayfield’s performance suffered as much as his team’s. Mayfield has four games with a quarterback rating above 100, leading the Buccaneers to a 6-3 start. He hasn’t topped that number since Week 10 and has four games with a sub-80 rating during that stretch.
Now, he’s dealing with a new injury ahead of Tampa Bay’s biggest game of the season. The Panthers clinched the NFC South with a best record of 9-8 and clinched the division’s only playoff spot with a win.
The Buccaneers need just one win to retain the division title, but will also need the Atlanta Falcons to defeat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. If the Buccaneers and Falcons win this week, the Panthers will have a three-way tiebreaker with Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay all tied at 8-9.