The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing a must-win game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 and need quarterback Baker Mayfield at full strength — or at least, something close to it. Mayfield, who entered Sunday’s game battling a rib injury, appeared to get banged up near the end of the first quarter.
Baker Mayfield Injury Update
Mayfield appeared to hurt his right ankle after taking a third-down sack from Panthers pass rusher Yetur Gross-Matos with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
While Mayfield limped off the field, he did not enter the blue medical tent on Tampa Bay’s sideline or receive attention from the club’s medical staff.
Mayfield returned to the game on the Bucs’ next offensive series. He did not miss a play.
#Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield limped off the field after getting sacked on this play.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 7, 2024
Mayfield played every snap in the Buccaneers’ Week 17 loss to the New Orleans Saints but exited the game with a rib issue. He did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday before fully participating on Friday.
MORE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Depth Chart
If Mayfield is forced to miss time, Tampa Bay will turn to No. 2 QB Kyle Trask, who has attempted just one pass this season. Trask, a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, played 10 offensive snaps over the first two years of his career while sitting behind Tom Brady.
The Bucs will win the NFC South with a win over the Panthers. Mayfield and Co. would be the NFC’s No. 4 seed in that scenario and host the No. 5 seed — likely the Philadelphia Eagles but potentially the Dallas Cowboys — in a Round 1 playoff game.
Conversely, a loss to Carolina will leave Tampa Bay out of the postseason entirely. The winner of Sunday’s Saints-Atlanta Falcons game will win the division crown instead.
Mayfield inked a one-year, $4 million contract with the Bucs over the offseason and has revitalized his career while throwing passes to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The 28-year-old entered Week 18 completing 64.4% of his attempts for 3,907 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while ranking 17th in QBR.
