Baker Mayfield is back for the Bucs against the Panthers, but his return is complicated by two big problems
Tampa Bay’s franchise QB could be stepping into a tough spot on Sunday.
It appears the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finally getting their quarterback back. But it’s far from an ideal situation that Baker Mayfield is stepping into.
The Bucs released their final injury report on Friday after practice, and while Baker Mayfield is listed as questionable for the game, Todd Bowles said after practice that Mayfield is ready to go for Sunday.
Baker Mayfield to return against Carolina but will be without starting RT Luke Goedeke and top WR Emeka Egbuka
However, the task is going to be exponentially tougher to pick up an enormous and desperately-needed division win on Sunday at the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield is going to have to potentially contend with increased pressure off the right side with starting right tackle Luke Goedeke out with a calf injury. Either Justin Skule or Benjamin Chukwuma will step into Goedeke’s spot.
Also, top wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been listed on the final report as out this week with a concussion and foot injury. Bowles indicated it was looking doubtful for Egbuka after practice on Friday, and the final report confirms that. Goedeke and Egbuka only got in a limited practice on Friday, and it appears it wasn’t enough for either of them.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that a struggling Bucs offense in 2026 without one of its top weapons is a significant setback. Egbuka had a season-high seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh last week. Chris Godwin, Jr.’s muted impact in Zac Robinson’s offense this year — 23 catches for 216 yards with no touchdowns — has come under the microscope this week, and the Bucs will need him desperately to have a big game on Sunday.
It’s never great when you have two starters out, obviously, and Robinson is going to have to call a particularly creative game on Sunday. It’ll indeed be a challenge to have to offset the loss of his best pass catcher and account for his quarterback potentially having to get out of the pocket more quickly than usual.
We’ll see how the Bucs respond on Sunday at 1 pm ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
