Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been lucky to have a relatively good quarterback for most of the 2023 season in Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield hasn't been perfect, but he has been good enough (outside of tonight) to put the team in positions to win games, and his staying healthy is the only thing that separates this team from competition and a quarterback that better fits a team in the tanking race.

That is why it was good that the Bucs were able to confirm that Mayfield was merely hurt and not injured in the losing affair.

Plenty of Buccaneers fans saw the video of Mayfield walking through the tunnel after the game with his arm hanging limp. The despair came quickly at the prospect of losing Mayfield. It made sense too-the quarterback got hit plenty in that game, especially at the end.

Baker Mayfield walks off the field not moving his left arm pic.twitter.com/wLpgstH5nM

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) October 15, 2023

However, the Buccaneers were able to get ahead of this one quickly and confirmed that Mayfield wasn't injured, he was simply hurt from all of the hits. That much makes sense.

Bowles said Baker Mayfield took a hit to his left hand, but x-rays were negative, just a bruise.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 15, 2023

This is good news for a Bucs team that still feels like it can be frisky down the stretch, but this game needs to serve as a warning to the team to keep Mayfield protected or risk something much worse happening to the franchise down the stretch.

Love him or hate him, Mayfield is holding this team together. The loss of the captain would be catastrophic, and it is clear that the Bucs dodged a bullet tonight with this news.

Buccaneers starter keeps struggling with same problem

A change needs to happen.