Baker Mayfield’s Initial Diagnosis
November 24th, 2025
It may not be that bad.
That’s the word from NFL uber insider from BSPN, Adam Schefter. As Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits his MRI test today, the Bucs don’t think the injury is that serious.
In fact, Schefter types, there is a chance Mayfield could play against the Cardinals next weekend.
Pre MRI, the Buccaneers believe Baker Mayfield suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, per sources. There was no fracture and no structural damage. One source said the Buccaneers “are not ruling out” Mayfield for Sunday’s game vs. the Cardinals. But today’s MRI will tell more.
This could be a terrific result. Of course, if Mayfield does play, we’ve seen how he is a shell of himself when he is playing hurt. He’s not the same player. At all.
So if Mayfield plays, that means the Bucs defense will have to show up.
Uh oh. Someone put out an all-points bulletin. The defense has gone AWOL since the bye. Maybe their heads are still in the DR?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
So you’re saying there’s a chance!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Finally some good news
November 24th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Finally, something to make my day after loser Monday feel somewhat sane!!! I’d sit him till the Atlanta game!!! teddy time… Go Bucs
November 24th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Good, one less excuse at the end of the season thats falling flat on its face.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Sit him until next season. Hard to see us winning with this Fisher-Price defense. In fact, sit everyone that’s worth keeping around.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
i don’t think teddy can jog 50 yards on a turf field without tripping !! He has ZERO legs left !!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Does not matter
November 24th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
That look on Baker’s face says it all… The Grizz is over his head.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
What’s the DR?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Dominican Republic? Why there?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Defense still stinks
November 24th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
In fact, Schefter types, there is a chance Mayfield could play against the Cardinals next weekend.
———
Huh… who said that was probably going to happen? Oh right, I did.
Again, injured a non-throwing shoulder on a play where he wasn’t hit. Humm. Anywho, hopefully he’s back, because without him they have no chance.
Win vs the Cardinals, the team is 7-5 and all is well.
Lose vs the Cardinals, well, then panic, yell and scream, rip your hair out and start the mock drafts up.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Well, at least Godwin didn’t get hurt
November 24th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
It would be great if the 9er’s destroyed the Panthers tonight.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Baker is as tough as they come, no question. But even he can’t paper over this turd.
Without him we are a 2-3 win team at best right now.
He might be the only reason Bowles card key still works at One Buc Place.
The defense is the worst in the NFL right now, and it isn’t close.
Grizzard has zero ability beyond holding a clip board.
This experiment has run it’s course. Fire Bowles ASAP!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
“The DR” is what is commonly, affectionately referred to as the Dominican Republic. It happens to be a popular tourist destination.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
why would he even bother playing this year?
November 24th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Yo Joe
Sheduer Sanders is 1-0 as a starter
Bucs passed on him 4 times smh
November 24th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Good news so far. Baker will want to be back. He is a fighter.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
and the Panthers need to win, so our ownership realizes how useless Bowles is
November 24th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Beat AZ (whatever it takes) ,,, and odds are (sometimes odds are wrong) Carolina loses to SF and Rams
November 24th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
The defense has gone AWOL since the bye.
———-
The defense gave Baker the ball back three times in the 4th quarter of the Pats game with a chance to take the lead. Seems pretty good to me.
Starts the Bills game with a turnover. Seems pretty good to me.
Then Dean gets hurt, Bowles goes into his turtle mode shell of mostly just sitting back in zone with the same results we always see.
If Dean is back next week, then there will be a sudden and dramatic improvement that people will say is because Dean is back – meanwhile it just has to do with Bowles only playing the real defense if everyone is healthy for some stupid reason.
Anywho, Dean being back is just as important as Baker being back because of that.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
If the 49ers win tonight I think you should rest mayfield, we will still control our own destiny and bridgewater will play a little better if he’s taking the first team reps. Carolina still has to play us twice and the rest of our stretch is all home games( even the Miami game I consider to be home) so no need to rush mayfield back. Get healthy and prepare for this stretch of season.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
an injured baker doesnt give us any more of a chance to win than a healthy teddy…when baker is hurt, he doesnt run and his accuracy is off…
Grizz wont commit to the run…we need Tucker to get 25+ carries and RW 15+ carries…but we know Grizz hates running the ball…
defense has quit on bowles…Zyon & Winfield have both regressed and players dont seem to take the next step in their development…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
He’s a tough SOB and he can will his way to play. I’d rather have a one-armed Baker than a two-gloved Teddy. Idc if we go with 6 OL all day and run the ball 60 times. That gives us a better chance to win than what Teddy would do. That was an abomination last night, not sure if I’ve ever been more embarrassed by our team… and that’s saying a lot for someone as old as I am and as many bleak years as we’ve had
November 24th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Can’t play him this week for the reason Joe said. He does not play well injured. If Bowles wants to keep his job he will rest Baker this week and find some fire to light under this team.
This team needs to be a pound the rock team right now anyway. Grizzard should be watching the Giants Lions game from yesterday to see a run game and play action and how to get guys open.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Like Todd will even tell us LOL we’ll have no clue what’s actually wrong – his arm could be amputated and they won’t put him on IR
November 24th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
i’m glad baker isnt injured/out but its not going to matter. anything more than a quick wild card loss from the playoffs is “a bit” optimistic for this year, or any year under the coaching of todd bowles.
grizzard is just useless. so much yipping about his yaleness pre season. “oh he’s smart yada yada” what garbage.
and the losing streak streak is intact…..who could have predicted that.
November 24th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
I gotta say, Munch, you take a lot of heat around here for your takes, but honestly, we agree most of the time. The only difference in opinion is that I’ve been yelling and screaming that Bowles can’t win a Super Bowl since we hired him. The Jets gave him his shot; these days, you really gotta prove something to get a second opportunity, but Bruce Arians just handed it to him.
Looking at the last several years, Jason Licht has done his job historically—building a talented, high-upside roster. From drafting foundational stars like Mike Evans and Ali Marpet in the early years, to Chris Godwin, Devin White(dont win that ring without him), Tristan Wirfs, and Antoine Winfield Jr. in recent years, Licht’s draft record shows clear improvement and an ability to build a roster capable of competing at the highest level.
The issue isn’t the talent—it’s the coaching. Bowles hasn’t consistently coached this roster to its full potential. Too often, we’ve seen him try to force square pegs into round holes, misusing potentially star players and failing to adapt schemes to the strengths of his personnel. Meanwhile, Bruce Arians didn’t maximize the Bucs opportunity either gifting him the job…
The logical step is that **both Bowles and Arians need to go**, while Licht should get the chance to pick his head coach again—just like he did when bringing in Arians. Let Licht find a coach whose system complements the roster he’s built. Give the new coach a few seasons to implement his vision, evaluate performance, and then decide if the team is headed in the right direction. That approach preserves the investment Licht has made in building this talented roster while giving the team a fair shot under the right leadership.
If they still suck then Licht has to go Bakers career is over at that point and its full rebuild mode anyways….
November 24th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
From Google:
AC joint sprain recovery time varies significantly based on the grade of the injury: a Grade 1 sprain typically takes 1-2 weeks, a Grade 2 injury can take 4-6 weeks, and a Grade 3 sprain may require 6-12 weeks or more. More severe sprains (Grades 4-6) may require surgery, leading to a longer recovery period of 4-6 months.
Not out of the woods by a long shot
November 24th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
As long as Baker plays I’m not getting off the bandwagon!
November 24th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
BTW, for the Baker Boi’s that constant quote the old outdated passer rating as a legit number, here’s last night numbers.
Mayfield — 32.0 passer rating
Bridgewater — 63.8 passer rating
Baker had a bad game, but you’re telling me Bridgewater was way better? Of course not, and you know what shows that? QBR…
Mayfield — 41.7 QBR
Bridgewater — 9.7 QBR
So for future reference, keep that in mind when quoting passer rating, it means nothing. QBR is generally speaking a much better, and more accurate measure of what actually occurred.