Bruce Arians Comments On Baker Mayfield Injury Impact
January 26th, 2026
Baker Mayfield started all 17 games this season for the third consecutive Tampa Bay campaign.
Mayfield also was on the injured list at times for his non-throwing shoulder, his throwing shoulder, an oblique problem and a knee issue. Sometimes it was multiple problems at once.
Officially, he was listed as a full-go starter on the final injury report for 15 of 17 games. Mayfield was “questionable” entering Week 4 (Eagles) and in Week 13 (Cardinals). He certainly looked 100 percent in Week 18 against the Panthers, initiating contact (foolishly?) and moving well.
Bucco Bruce Arians is a paid senior advisor to Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and he’s a great friend to Todd Bowles. So Joe assumes Arians knows a thing or two about the Bucs behind the scenes. Joe also assumes Arians has talked to his handpicked defensive coaches, Kevin Ross and Nick Rapone, guys removed from the Bucs’ payroll this month.
Last week, Arians was asked on FanDuel TV about the impact Mayfield’s injury.
Kay Adams: How much was the injury a factor in your eyes in how he played down the stretch?
Bruce Arians: Yeah, I think it mattered, that and we kept blowing leads. And I think he felt like he had to put it all on his shoulders. Early in the year, he had the magic and he pulled the games out. Later in the year he couldn’t quite get it done.”
How much was the offense limited because of Mayfield’s injuries? It’s a great mystery of the 2025 season. Still, the Bucs had more than enough offense — and talent — to avoid finishing 2-7 down the stretch.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Doesn’t look like Mayfield is as tough as he thinks he is. If he had a healthy oline and a real defense and wasn’t so careless with his body we could compete. It’s a Bucs life.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:09 am
the resident high school experts will soon be here to tell us they know more about Baker’s injuries than people who work at One buc
I think its most likely a combination of injury and the Oline with a sprinkle of over confidence or thinking HE had to make something happen. Some throws were obviously bad decisions he thought he could pull of
January 26th, 2026 at 11:10 am
“And we kept blowing leads”
There you have it. Your boy Bowles couldn’t keep a lead. Our Oline was a mess this year – so I give the offense a bit of a pass. But our defense? Our scheme is too complicated and we lack playmakers. Fix it please!
January 26th, 2026 at 11:22 am
With a healthy O-line, a healthy Baker, hopefully an upgrade at OC, and all the skill weapons available, our offense should be just fine this year. It’s the defense that worries most of us. We’ve got to have a good draft and pick up a couple of decent defensive FAs to have a chance at clawing back the Division title and making the playoffs. I’m just not real optimistic about that happening. I hope I’m wrong!
January 26th, 2026 at 11:23 am
HopetheBucswin Says:
January 26th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Doesn’t look like Mayfield is as tough as he thinks he is.
^^^^^^^^^^^
You’re incorrect, IMHO. Baker showed great toughness.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Another reason why I thought the BUCS would get a new head coach is the QB situation. They let Trask go, brought in Bridgewater who looked like he had no business on the field. I understand that we dont know what Trask can do or cannot ( I am not a fan of Trask by any means), but atleast he had the motivation to play hard. Why get an experienced Backup when there is no plan to use that experience
January 26th, 2026 at 11:29 am
He’s got to learn how to SLIDE and to just get outta bounds, and live to fight another day.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:33 am
I think the zone running scheme will help the offense.
I’m looking forward. JMac Tez E double. I need two more.
With Drew Lock or Justin Fields in the qb room right now.
Backups. There’s a high possibility that Zack Rob would be the next HC for the Buccaneers. Forward thinking Glazers. We will be talk about defense a lot when draft time comes around 🤙🏾👊🏾
January 26th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Bucs could have a good offense if they avoid the injuries and invest in some quality backups for the OL and qb as the guards and Bridgewater were definitely not NFL caliber last season. However, if the Bucs spend coin building depth on the offense, how are they going to deal with the D, which is in far worse shape Lavonte is probably done and SVD is not a starter plus there are holes on the DL and absolutely no edge rush? Throw in the fact that the team’s best CB is leaving via free agency and you can see a lot of holes to fill but only so much coin under the cap. having draft picks are nice, but usually if these dudes pan out, it is a couple of seasons down the road, not 2026 and even a great GM is not going to hit on all of his picks; some will be busts like Braswell, Trask, Aguayo, OJ Howard, MJ Stewart, etc…..
January 26th, 2026 at 11:39 am
The truth about Baker’s injuries is “the truth will never be known! Why, it would only be assumptions\conjectures to post meaningless what “ifs”. So, with Baker himself, hopefully he will learn to adapt his style of play to his age. If he cannot adapt, he will be that washed-up has been quarterback that a third of the folks who post on this site think he is!
January 26th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Mayfail needs to learn how to slide. He’s not worth a pee hole in the snow when he’s injured, he got ran out of CLE because he refused to be benched. The Christmas game at Green Bay was particularly embarrassing, absolutely no velocity on the ball and I think it was a 4 interception game.
January 26th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Pathetic defense!!! did not help
January 26th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Most of Baker’s injuries occur by the way he plays the game! So, with Baker himself, hopefully he will learn to adapt his style of play to his age. If he cannot adapt, he will be that washed-up has been quarterback that a third of the folks who post on this site think he is!
January 26th, 2026 at 11:46 am
“Bruce Arians: Yeah, I think it mattered, that and we kept blowing leads.”
And who pray tell would be the one blowing those leads I wonder???
Oh, that’s right. Never mind. We aren’t allowed to go there.
It was the OC and defensive assistants that caused the Hindenburg style collapse.
Problem solved folks! We brought in a run first OC to go with a run first HC\DC.
Good thing we have high paid, high drafted WRs to block for those run plays!
With this defense we can win every game 13-3!!!!!
January 26th, 2026 at 11:56 am
The Curse of Ariens…..his legacy is Bowzo
January 26th, 2026 at 11:57 am
“that and we kept blowing leads. And I think he felt like he had to put it all on his shoulders.”
Bingo. It appears Bruce hasn’t completely lost it.
This is exactly what I said in that TJ Housh article about Baker. Anyone watching the Bucs consistently, could see this.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
For as great of a coach that he is, sometimes I really am amazed by what comes out of his mouth.
The offense wasn’t so good that there were a ton of great leads to blow in the back half, but he’s correct in that there were some, and one that was significant against atlanta is what ended up killing the season.
But the only coach left on his tree, his legacy, has the most answering to do for bowling that lead.
I would just answer generically from now on Bruce. You’re not doing Todd any more favors with those types of answers.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
There’s one thing that I’d like to clarify better.
I watched every game and if memory serves me correctly, Baker didn’t get hurt running the ball. He got hurt in those twisting, turning, multiple defender pocket-collapse sacks! Those types of sacks are the most dangerous to a QB’s health.
Baker’s actually adopted a more shoulder-down impact setup in a lot of his running plays. Hitting an an off-balance opponent like that can be much safer when the opponent is not squared-off in some way against the runner.
Please tell me if my memory was not correct pertaining to injuries resulting from runs.
January 26th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
I blame Bowles because he insisted on giving a job to a backup QB who couldn’t play, simply because he wanted to help a fellow minority.
Jobs should be earned, and Teddy did not earn his.