‘Fought his ass off’ — Baker Mayfield shouts out a starter who did the dirty work in Bucs’ win over 49ers
Tampa Bay’s star QB had some praise for a key performer from Sunday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been about as beaten up as any team, save perhaps the team they beat 30-19 on Sunday in the San Francisco 49ers. Tampa Bay’s injury woes continued against the 49ers, with WR Emeka Egbuka suffering a hamstring injury that put the Bucs’ top four wideouts on the sideline together next to starting RB Bucky Irving.
But it was Irving’s backup who played a crucial role in the team’s win on Sunday. Rachaad White stepped in for the second straight week and delivered, grinding out 65 yards on the ground on 17 carries with a touchdown while adding 21 yards on three catches.
It might not scream a massive day, but White’s tough running was key for the offense, and Baker Mayfield shouted him out after the game.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield says Rachaad White ‘fought his ass off’ against the 49ers
“I thought Rachaad fought his ass off,” Mayfield said during his post-game press conference. “The run game was there early and often, and Rachaad made some really, really good plays. Tough running, tough sledding there against a physical defense that really flies at the ball. So, Rachaad, that’s two weeks in a row he’s playing really, really well. So, we’ve just got to keep it going.”
White found himself back in the lead role after Irving suffered shoulder and foot injuries in Tampa Bay’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the team’s game against Seattle. White ground out 41 yards on 14 carries, but he found the end zone twice in the Bucs’ 38-35 win in the Pacific Northwest.
White had a big season in 2023 for Tampa Bay, both as a runner and as a receiver. He went over 1500 yards from scrimmage with 990 rushing yards, 549 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. Not many teams in the NFL can call on that kind of production as a 1B or backup role, but Tampa Bay has that luxury, and it’s paid off in a big way the last two games.
We’ll see this week when the injury reports come out if White’s opportunity at an expanded role will continue, or if Irving will make it back on the field against the Detroit Lions on “Monday Night Football.”
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