Did Baker Mayfield Need More Time To Heal?
November 11th, 2025
Is Baker Mayfield hurt?
The state of Baker Mayfield’s dangerous scrambling ability boils down to four things, maybe a little of all four.
* Baker Mayfield is still dinged up. The bye week, while it may have helped, wasn’t enough time off to heal fully.
* Defenses are spying Mayfield so much that with Emeka Egbuka basically being the only weapon teams fear, teams have decided to make sure Mayfield cannot hurt them with his legs.
* The Lions exposed something with the Bucs offense. The NFL is a copycat league and the slimy Saints and Patriots saw what the Lions did and have attacked the Bucs the same way.
* With so many injuries, Bucs coaches decided the team cannot survive Mayfield going down. So they are leaning on him not to run. (As Bucco Bruce Arians said recently, “If you put a quarterback in harm’s way, harm is coming, baby.”)
Yesterday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked if Mayfield is still injured. Bowles was asked to comment on a in-game CBS report that claimed Mayfield told the Patriots-Bucs announcing crew that he was playing at 50 percent health before the bye week.
Bowles basically tap-danced around the question without denying it.
“No. I think in the middle of the season right now, everybody is playing with something,” Bowles said. “Everybody is playing with something. So, we just have to make sure we keep [Mayfield] upright and don’t get him hit as much.
“I thought he came out and had a good week of practice. He looked better than he did before the bye week. All of our guys are playing with something. If you’re at 75 percent, you’re at 100 percent. If you’re at 50 percent, you’re functional. So, he’s functional.”
Well, Bowles is right in that Mayfield looked better than he did in New Orleans. The way Mayfield looked against the slimy Saints reminded Joe of the final regular season game of 2023 in Carolina, where Mayfield looked like a shell of himself.
Mayfield hasn’t had one scramble past the line of scrimmage in three games and it looks like he’s been neutered to become more of a stationary, pocket quarterback.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:28 am
Well maybe you should’ve sat him, because Baker has looked like a shell of himself over the last 3 games.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:45 am
It does not help to have an OC that cant adjust to the situation with Baker. He is not getting much help with the play calling.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:46 am
Realistically, how can you expect Baker to run with the ball when the offensive line isn’t blocking well enough to make 1 yard three times in a row? He is hurt but he’s a competitor that doesn’t quit on the team. Maybe I didn’t watch the same game as some of you but I though he played pretty well all things considered.Three TDs to back up receivers and no interceptions. The Patriots have a good team – their offensive line and defensive lines are much better that the Bucs. The busted plays on defense cost us the game, not Baker.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:47 am
28 of 43 nearly 300, 3 TD’s, I’ll take that over hospital ball guy
November 11th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Bake wasn’t the problem against the Pats…3 TD’s, no INT’s…not even his typical fumble/game. When they knew we had to pass, they took turns tearing through the middle of our line…no time to throw.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:54 am
We all knew he ran too much and would get hurt. Especially with the OL hurting too. Its tough because we need a healthy Baker so he’can’ run. 🙁
November 11th, 2025 at 7:54 am
No Baker needed more time in the pocket…All issues on offense are do to no time for Baker.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Now we scheme for a pocket passer? Should have kept Trask till Baker healed up.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Trask is better than what we have right now in Bridgewater considering he was on the injured list for teeth.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Ahh — still see love for Trask — a guy not on any football team.
Pretty sure all these posters know more than the NFL GMs. /s
November 11th, 2025 at 8:30 am
LMAO. Trask is out of football. Is he even selling insurance or driving delivery trucks yet? Who knows.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:31 am
The Lions exposed something with the Bucs offense. The NFL is a copycat league and the slimy Saints and Patriots saw what the Lions did and have attacked the Bucs the same way.
BINGO!!!!!
and what they’ve exposed is Grizz!!!!!….
defenses are stopping the run early because they know Grizz will abandon the run game and they’re taking away the 1st/primary read in the progression but playing man….
the answer to the offense is simple!!!!….dedicate your game plan to running the ball!!!!!
i saw 1 play were Tucker and White were in the back field at the same time and Tucker got 8yards….Grizz never ran 2RB sets again….
when defenses are playing man, everyone knows crossing routes are man beaters…Tez scored on 2 crossing routes and Otton had a HUGE play on a crossing route that was wiped out due to poor execution/mental errors by Shep…
i think its time for Grizz and Tom Moore to sit in the booth right next to each other on gamedays….Allow Tom Moore to be the run game coordinator and let Grizz focus on 3rd down as he did last year….
bottom line is the offense is failing, Grizz in particular and run game has regressed under his offensive leadership…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 11th, 2025 at 8:32 am
1 positive is that we havent lost back-to-back games this year and I believe that streak will continue!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 11th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Teddy Bridgewater should start this next game. Baker is too hurt and he is hurting this team being out there when he can’t play like himself
November 11th, 2025 at 8:38 am
grizzard isnt injured. whats his excuse
November 11th, 2025 at 8:38 am
He’s one dimensional right now. I saw it in the beginning of the Detroit game. The pocket broke down he scrambles left towards the boundary with one defender to beat with a lane and he mysteriously falls on the turf. He hasn’t scrambled since. Exactly, double EE, crash the pocket, and spy the check down. It makes Mayfield throw in difficult window and you see near ints at times with him forcing it. I think to get a SB Jason has to draft 3-4 contributors offense/defense lineman, LB, convince Evans and David to return, sell out in free agency for a Edge, and Metcalf type WR, and at the trade deadline add some insurance.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Baker secretly injured or fully healthy, it does not matter. There’s not a team in the NFL who will give back a win because they feel bad about your injuries.
I believe the true judge for this year’s team will come in two weeks in LA. Forget the Bills—they are too inconsistent and reside in the AFC.
The Rams are currently playing better than anybody, and the 37 year old Stafford is having one of his best years.
This past Sunday was a series of unusually successful big plays by New England. A regular event in college, you don’t see it that much in the NFL. My main gripe with one of them was the play of Morrison when he should never be subbing for a healthy Dean, who is having his best year. Wanna throw away a game just to save a few bucks next year? Apparently so!!
Back to the Rams game …
Bowles is not better than McVay, so he will be out-coached again.
But if the Bucs can keep it down to the wire or win, anything is possible. If they get blown out, this team will need to make changes. Can’t count on the NFC South to be horrible forever.
November 11th, 2025 at 8:51 am
we may be looking up at carolina in less than two weeks
November 11th, 2025 at 8:53 am
morrison was inches and amilla second from an interception on that long pass, dean should have been in there
November 11th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Dean should have been in there? So what is the excuse for 2 long TD runs by the same rookie RB?
November 11th, 2025 at 9:02 am
Seahawks are the best team in the league. We beat them. We lost to the Eagles, the Patriots.and the Lions. No disgrace. If we take care of business and get healthier, we should be no worse than 11-5.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:06 am
As I look at oir WR room and available players, can we really afford to sit Baker, we might want to relook at TMac injury from the “Bridgewater special Ed” pass, before we allow him to pass to our other WR’s? Imagine if we had TMAC, Egbuka, Taz, Otton, Sheppard, Miller, White, Bucky We would not be as easy to shut down our Offense… We have some good depth, and as all teams are without 1st 2nd string WR on IR/Injured they are also not as explosive. I am comfortable with GM Licht non-trades, I want a full slate of Draft choices to help kir tram not lose them to a player who has zero experience in our system… Because we had a run of injuries..
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
November 11th, 2025 at 9:10 am
I bet he fractured/broke a rib on that hit that got him the touchdown to Kam Johnson. Thankfully he looked badass taking that hit and getting up from it but once the adrenaline wore off I’m sure he felt that totally unprotected hit. Now, going forward we need to revert to throwing at the Coen line. We need more screen game. Grizzard has got to stop worrying about throwing down field and creating explosive plays. Just throw the ball to Tez/White/Bucky and play before the sticks till the long ball opens up.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Opportunities are there for the offense to execute better
Receivers can read the zone options better, offensive line can communicate better and Baker can make better decisions
They just need to start clicking and get on the same page.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:17 am
What signature wins has the organization accrued with Bowl at the helm?
November 11th, 2025 at 9:22 am
I think we now realize how important Baker’s scrambling is to our offense…..just one play here or there can make the difference in a close game.
It also exposes the weakness of our Oline…….he has been under pressure all year….
If we could put the pressure on other teams like they do to us….the results would be quite different.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:50 am
Maybe Todd should take over play calling on offense the way Dan Campbell did in Detroit they scored 44points with Campbell calling the plays
November 11th, 2025 at 9:53 am
To me TampaBayBucFan we have been putting more pressure on the other team especially lately.
The 1 sack compared to the 2 sacks that NE had was certainly disappointing.
However, we had 6 QB hits on Maye behind the line of scrimmage plus 3 other good shots on him when he ran the ball 7 times for 13 yards.
We also had the only INT in the game.
The Bucs pressured Maye 16 times on 36 drop backs.
NE pressured Baker 8 times on 45 drop backs.
Our OL is not nearly as good this year as in the previous 6 years — but we have consistently been putting as much pressure on the other team as they have been putting on us if not more.
At least IMO.
November 11th, 2025 at 10:00 am
mj, Carolina lost to the Saints at home by 10, they scored 7 points and looked even worse offensively than the Bucs did vs the Aints. Granted the Bucs are in a mess of trouble as Todd Bowles gets them into their mid-season funk but what makes you think Carolina can even win 2 games the rest of the season let alone 2 in a row???? I see the Panthers going 7-10 or 8-9 at best, winning the division is likely for Tampa but so is losing in the wildcard to Seattle, Green Bay or the Rams at home….
November 11th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Sit Baker for the next two games.
Take the losses – they are coming anyway. Then sit him for AZ on the 30th
Look at the schedule that CAR & ATL have down the stretch. The only threat to winning the division is Atlanta. Beat them Dec 11 and its over.
While I dont believe that this team/coach is good enough to win a playoff game, the only hope is a healthy & fresh Mayfield.
Let Bridgewater play, that’s why he was brought here, and rest every injured guy until they are absolutely needed, not a game before.
November 11th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Baker played fine. It was the Defense that stunk the place up. Where is our Pass Rush Todd Bowles?
November 11th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Baker did not look one bit healthier after having the bye week. 0 runs the last 3 games. 0. That ought to tell ya everything about Baker’s health right now.
Super worrisome with this Oline from hell we have.
November 11th, 2025 at 11:11 am
The Lion’s did expose something, but it wasn’t what I’ve seen posted thus far. We only have one good wide receiver, they just double him up and play man on everybody else, because the rest can’t overcome it
November 11th, 2025 at 11:28 am
We need Baker for later. Let’s have a little Teddy Time for a couple of games, so Baker can heal up. Maybe by then at least Bucky will be back. I’ve given up hope for Godwin coming back. Same for MacMillan. We have some space and Teddy isn’t a schlub.
November 11th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Baker looked like the Baker we saw against Carolina in the second meeting in 2023 in the Lions game. Against the Saints he looked a little better and against the Pats he looked better yet. So I think he’s getting healthier assuming no setbacks. And I do believe it’s a conscious decision by the team to not have him run right now at least. If he has a clear field ahead and can slide before getting hit, he should take it.
November 11th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
The Bucs were averaging 5 yards per rush attempt. Yet, on 11 of 13 third downs, they predictably tried to pass the ball setting Baker up as a target for injury. They converted both of the third downs when they ran the ball.
When the Bucs make the odds 11 out of 13 that they will pass the ball on third down, they cannot reasonably expect to consistently provide time for Baker to throw on third down. And, why do they want Baker to pass on third down so much when they were two for two running for third down conversions.
Is this a Grizzard thing or a Baker thing? Is Baker checking out of too many runs. It doesn’t seem that way to me. Whatever it is, it t has cost the Bucs the Lions game and the Patriots game.
It is time to fix it.
November 11th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Of course he’s still injured. Our record when he scrambles for positive yards this season is 5-1, and in the 3 games he hasn’t ran, we’re 1-2.
With that said, if we can’t win a game without our QB scrambling off script, we have bigger issues…
November 11th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
” If you’re at 50 percent, you’re functional. So, he’s functional.”
so he’s playing at 50%?
November 11th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
🏈 The offensive line will improve from game to game. They have not been this healthy in a while, so it might take a game or two to get their sea legs.
🏈 Baker will get healthier from game to game…assuming he doesn’t get hit as much.
🏈 Tez Johnson needs to learn the playbook better.
We lost that game because the Packers were the better team. That’s how it goes. Now we move on and keep getting better.
And for heaven’s sake, a little team spirit from the fans would be nice!
November 11th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Beeej Says:
“The Lion’s did expose something…”
I disagree. I think we have one great WR, and a couple of acceptable ones. Tez Johnson needs to learn the playbook better. He’s been running the wrong routes a lot.
We also have Otton, who had a great game.
November 11th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Baker is not a running quarterback; he is a scrambling quarterback. And, as he has said more than once, he runs when it is strategically necessary and the defense gives him an opening. I don’t think the past couple games offered those two conditions. I’m not denying he’s not 100%, just saying that the game situations, in a win and a loss, did not present themselves to where his running would win or lose the game. The reason he excites us with his running is that he employs it in dramatic situations. There weren’t many in the last games.
November 11th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
A LOT of great comments to this piece Joe, it hits a nerve.
Baker shouldn’t be starting right now IMO; he’s operating at 50-75% at Bowles own admission. Playing him without allowing him to get right physically will lose us most of our remaining games & the divison. His strength is in his running AND his passing, and taking away his capacity to run simply neuters him. Best best is to start Teddy Bridgewater for the next 2, maybe even 3 games.
Despite that however, Bucs lost Sunday because our defense sucked on Run Defense. We did quite good limiting their Pass Game (Maye was 16-of 31 for 270 yds), except for ONE PASS PLAY (1 short that went for a 72-yd TD). And our D totally sucked when it came to stopping their Run Game (27 runs for 166 yds). And specifically TWO RUNS (Henderson’s 55-yd TD run & his 69-yd TD run). Both inexcusable … 196 of New England’s yardage came from only 3 of their 59 plays.
Even with Baker being limited physically in that game, Bucs could’ve won. Big, explosive plays against our defense have been costing us all season.
November 11th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
Flashback to Sunday…
1st series, we get a touchdown, and literally LITERALLY the Baker Boi(s) are going – see, he wasn’t healthy, now he is.
Then after a few more drives where he’s like 1-6 literally LITERALLY the same people start saying, see, he’s not healthy.
Every week it’s the same thing.
BTW, I thought Baker looked fine on Sunday. Nothing special – he didn’t elevate anyone, but he wasn’t bad. Outside of some early missed passes – I think he got what he could, but the Pats have a very good defense and the Bucs are just missing too many people and lack weapons to make Baker look good.
November 11th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Joe, what’s your take on mid-season preseason games?
Baker had a 65% competition percentage for 273 yds and 3 tds (granted 1 was trash time) and people want to see HS Coach Bridgewater? Sign me up, let me pay full fare for blackballed, so we can have rusty starters lose in the 1st rd (if they get there). Boooo.
Players play and they play hurt. This is why meatloafs like Goedeke get 4 yr contracts worth $90 million. The guy working on my roof in the cold has been here 2 days in a row, for two 8 hrs days, and according to him he’s been suffering with a slipped disc for a month, but his insurance won’t cover mri/surgery until he completes 6 wks of pt. Crap Dr, crap pay, hurting body, but he has to work. Meanwhile, we want to coddle multimillionaires with every medical and health resource at their disposal so old boy on the roof can watch scrubs when he’s resting his back on Sundays. Sorry, if cleared…you play. Hear that word PLAY, not work, PLAY
November 11th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
*backups
November 11th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
He needs Brian Daboll or Mike McDaniel as OC
November 11th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Rod … Last 3 games: Baker – 0 run attempts, 0 rushing yards.
Bucs record: 1-2
He’s been told not to run. His ELEVEN 1st down runs rushing have been vital in our wins. Second most on the team.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:25 pm
Rod … ‘Flashback to Sunday… 1st series, we get a touchdown, and literally LITERALLY the Baker Boi(s) are going – see, he wasn’t healthy, now he is.’
That first series was a very nice (and actually balanced) attack of 3 runs & 3 short passes. We scored but then Bredeson got hurt and Jordan subbed in. Losing Bredeson hurt IMO.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
DR is back. Been looking for your comments on Sundays game. I believe you’re spot on. I thought bringing on Bridgewater was a good move. He’s 33-32 as an NFL starter. That says more than anything else to me. I don’t think it happens though. And like Munch I think Baker seems to be moving around and throwing OK. But something is definitely off. Could painkillers be being used? Even in interviews Baker has seemed off. If he’s that injured I’d prefer he sits til he heals up. He looks worn out like he needs a good nights sleep.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Joe, did you ever watch the old Popeye cartoon? Do you remember the goonies who could only say “We love Popeye” in a trance-like state? Cut your hair and substitute your player du jour for the word Popeye in that chant. Now you’re lockstepping with NFL. PLAYERS PLAY. Nobody wants to pay for mid-season preseason games. Nobody is paying $200/tix for Teddy Bridgewater. Ppl work hurt all the time. Why should well compensated men who chose a violent career path be any different??
November 12th, 2025 at 12:24 am
Kenton Smith … ‘DR is back. Been looking for your comments on Sundays game.’
Ya, bummer, got taken to the hospital Sat night & had emergency surgery Sun at 4 PM (missed most of the 2nd half but saw 2 of the 3 long-play TDs). Thankfully only had to stay in for a couple of days after that.
It’s those loooong explosive plays that drive me nuts Kenton. That’s inexcusable in college; should absolutely never happen in the pros.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:02 am
Coaching is Bucs Achilles heel. It gives me no pleasure to say this.
They have a lot of great players.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:00 am
DR, you’re tougher than a boot. Glad you’re home and my friend getting feeling better is way more important than any “ loooong explosive plays”. Do what you can and let’s grind through another season. We ain’t done yet!
November 12th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Defense Rules – Hope you are feeling better now!