As if there wasn’t enough drama already, injury concerns surrounding quarterback Baker Mayfield have been in the spotlight with the Bucs needing a win over the Panthers in Week 18 to advance to the postseason. There is.
Mayfield was injured late in a 23-13 loss to the Bucks after taking a two-point conversion from Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu. The referees threw a flag to New Orleans for this hit, but Tampa Bay also had a penalty on the same play, so they offset it. Mayfield remained for the next play, which the Bucks were unable to make, with a serious injury that remains this week.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was defiant Monday, saying Mayfield was ready for Sunday’s winner-take-all game.
“His ribs are hurting,” Bowles said. “He’ll be better by Sunday. He’ll be ready to go by Sunday.”
But Bowles played a different song Wednesday after Mayfield confirmed he wouldn’t have practiced if it weren’t for the walk-through. The concept has changed from “he’s playing” to essentially “he’s going to try to play.” Mr. Bowles’ demeanor on Monday was so emphatic that it was strange how it dropped two days later.
“I know he’s going to do his best to play,” Bowles said. “I’m not a doctor, so I can’t feel what Baker feels, so I don’t know how he feels.” [or] If he can play. I know if he can play, he’s going to try to play. ”
This further prepares backup quarterback Kyle Trask and increases his chances of playing on Sunday.
“It’s always a worry when one of your star players plays [is] It hurt,” Bowles said. “Let’s see what happens. We have [all the] believe [Kyle] Trask if he has to play. Baker is going to try to play, but he can’t play unless he’s healthy. If he’s healthy enough to play, he’ll play.”
So is he playing or not playing?
Here’s what Todd Bowles had to say about Baker Mayfield’s injury:
“I don’t know how he’s going to feel if he’s able to play. But I know that if he’s able to play, he’s going to try to play.”
“If you’re not healthy, you can’t play. If you’re healthy enough to play, you’ll play.”#Bucks pic.twitter.com/NqvBy2F5EJ
— Pewter Report 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) January 3, 2024
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield answers with no answer.
When Baker Mayfield took to the podium, he had similar beliefs as Bowles.
“Obviously, we didn’t exactly test today. We’re just going to increase the mental reps for everyone. We’re just going to go see it. Like I said, we haven’t tested it yet, so we just have to let our guard down. I’m sure by the time game time approaches, the adrenaline will be pumping depending on the situation, especially where we’re sitting right now.”
Mayfield, who is constantly motivated by the injury on his shoulder, hinted at beating his former team in his home city as a big reason he wants to play. He gave a good answer, but it wasn’t a yes or no.
“I’m going to do everything I can to get in, that’s for sure,” Mayfield said. “The division is on the line, the playoffs are on the line, do I go back to Carolina? Yes, I’ll give it my all.”
#Bucks QB Baker Mayfield said it hurt a lot.
“It’s one of those gentle things. I’ve dealt with rib injuries before. Rest and rest as the week goes by. Otherwise it helps.”
As for whether he will play on Sunday,
“I’ll do my best to play, that’s for sure. Division On… pic.twitter.com/XqwzXyFjlJ
— Pewter Report 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) January 3, 2024
It looks like Baker Mayfield will be playing, but should he be? Mayfield deserves credit for his toughness and desire to play, but it’s questionable whether his injury will hurt the Bucks in Sunday’s game. Playing through injuries has set him back before. In 2021, he continued to go out every week with a torn labrum, and his condition only worsened. This put the idea in the Browns’ minds that they wanted to pursue another quarterback, and Mayfield was on the move.
That derailed Baker Mayfield’s career. If a similar situation occurs in the next game, many people within the organization could lose their jobs.
Will head coach Todd Bowles and head coach Dave Canales stop Baker from playing?
Baker’s Mayfield practiced Wednesday and threw the ball very lightly at first.
Now, Baker Mayfield was at practice today, and he threw the ball very lightly both during warmups and when he threw afterward. #Bucks OC Dave Canales and the other QB will serve as WRs. pic.twitter.com/hwNOdcohJS
— Matt Matera (@matty4_matera) January 4, 2024
Late in practice, which was open to the media, Mayfield took off his helmet and made sure to throw some powerful passes. Only he can answer whether he is in more pain.
Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales confirmed Mayfield participated in at least one session of Thursday’s drill. He seemed to be pitching accurately.
“He had a third-down period. He took all the reps with a great third-down period and threw some accurate balls,” Canales said. “He looked really good. Again, I don’t want to say too much about it, especially the scheme or the style that we’re going to do, but as far as throwing, he looked functional today. He took some balls down the field and looked OK.”
Asked if he would be involved in deciding whether Mayfield plays, he said that decision only comes from one person.
“Honestly, it’s going to be Baker’s decision and if he wants to do it…I’m sure Baker will give us the best chance to win,” Canales said. “So if he feels ready, that’s a decision he can make.”
That’s why this part is concerning. If Baker Mayfield is hurting the team, I don’t know if Bowles and Canales are going to pull him to play Kyle Trask. It’s not about Mayfield’s toughness or effort, it’s just that an injury like this can seriously limit his mobility in a game. He’s not going to take himself out of the game, so someone will have to take him out of the game if that happens.
Bowles doesn’t just coach players; he’s also just a coach. He kept the Bucks together during tough losing streaks and was always willing to let his players get thrown under the bus rather than being ridiculed. However, it sometimes hurts Bowles as well. He has been criticized for standing in the stands for too long when inside linebacker Devin White should have been benched. Bowles also took too long to make other personnel adjustments, including starting outside linebacker Yaya Diaby. With this season at stake, he can’t afford to wait.
Canales is also a first-year play caller and has an energetic and upbeat personality. He shares a great relationship with Mayfield. Is he ready to have it? Difficult conversations with Mayfield What if the Bucs are down by two points against the Panthers and he can’t make the big throws?
Hopefully he’s healthy enough that it doesn’t affect his mobility and the Bucs don’t have to go to Trask. But if Baker Mayfield can’t perform at a high level based on his limitations, I’m not sure Bowles and Canales will be able to say “enough is enough” and follow Trask. There’s a lot at stake for everyone, as Mayfield won’t sit down, so when a problem arises, someone has to force it.