Bucs’ Todd Bowles gives update on Baker Mayfield’s chances to play on Sunday against Cardinals
Things are moving in the right direction for the Bucs’ starting QB to be on the field on Sunday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have their starting quarterback under center on Sunday as they look to stop their three-game losing streak against the Arizona Cardinals.
Bowles met with the local media after practice on Friday, and he said that Baker Mayfield, who suffered a sprained left shoulder against Los Angeles, is “trending” towards playing this weekend.
Todd Bowles says Baker Mayfield is trending towards starting against the Cardinals
That’s quite the improvement for Mayfield over a short span of time. He was clearly in pain in the first half after throwing a touchdown pass during the Bucs’ blowout loss to the Rams, and he aggravated his injury and was in significant pain on a final Hail Mary down 31-7. He reappeared wearing a sling and missed the rest of the game. As such, things didn’t appear optimistic in the immediate aftermath of the game.
Fortunately, an MRI showed no structural damage, and Mayfield was able to return to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday.
The Bucs could also have the services of a number of other players back as well. Bowles only ruled out CB Benjamin Morrison and S Rashad Wisdom for Sunday. Haason Reddick, Bucky Irving, Jamel Dean, and Ben Bredeson are all in play to return at this point. Irving’s target date last Friday, per Bowles, was this week against Arizona, and after practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday, it appears the Bucs could have their starting QB and RB back on the field together.
We’ll find out for sure on Sunday morning, when the inactives are released an hour and a half ahead of kickoff.
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