If Hurt, Baker Mayfield Should Not Play, Period!
November 15th, 2026
Rewind of 2025.
Here we go again.
Baker Mayfield suffered an ankle or foot injury in the loss to the Bears, Mike Garofolo reported today. It is serious enough that someone leaked that Mayfield’s availability for the Lions game next Sunday is uncertain.
No one has ruled Mayfield out of next week’s game in Detroit, and several sources have noted his willingness to play through injuries in the past. If it’s a question of pain tolerance over functionality, according to sources, Mayfield will do everything he can to take the field against the Lions.
Garafolo added that this is not considered a major injury and being placed on injured reserve is not on the table.
But here we go again. Last year when Mayfield’s play weirdly fell off the map after the bye and people said it was due to him being beat up. Now, with Mayfield clearly having his worst season since signing with the Bucs in 2023, word mysteriously leaks that Mayfield is beat up.
Again.
Look, Joe’s a Mayfield guy but enough. Love his intangibles. But if he’s hurt, he shouldn’t be on the field. With the Bucs still in a playoff hunt, his poor play should in no way be excused due to injuries.
If Mayfield is hurt, then he shouldn’t suit up next week. It’s really that simple.
Joe can just see it now, folks will stick up for Mayfield’s pathetic play, “Oh, he was playing hurt. You wouldn’t believe what he put himself through. No mere mortal would ever try to play through what he did.”
When will the adults take over at One Buc Palace?
November 15th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Baker playing hurt is something we have heard a lot.
Is he really hurt?
It’s not been great football lately that’s for sure
November 15th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Bruce we need you back bud. This franchise is a joke with out you.
November 15th, 2026 at 11:36 am
“Oh, he was playing hurt. You wouldn’t believe what he put himself through. No mere mortal would ever try to play through what he did.”
Exactly what’s going to happen Joe, and now we wait. . .
November 15th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Personally, I was impressed with Daniels. He played exactly like I expected from a rookie with a deep well of talent. This season is lost anyway, Faker have never been the answer so the path forward should be obvious.
November 15th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Greatest heist in NFL is what Baker did to the Bucs. Set the franchise back at least 4-5 years. Glazers and Licht showcased their incompetence.
November 15th, 2026 at 11:50 am
He seems hurt physically and mentally since the bi last year. Was he hurt at the beginning of the year? He is our Achilles heel. Welcome to the Bakers den of disfunction, ,joy.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Arians back to the Bucs please, Todd B at DC, and Lian Cohen as OC, OHHHHHHH WAITTTTT
November 15th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Actually Jalon and Baker currently have the same win pct : 33%
Baker has 154 passing YPG over 6 starts
Jalon has 167 passing YPG over 3 starts
Baker has 4.7 YPA rushing
Jalon has 5.6 YPA rushing
Baker 60.6 comp% 3 TD 4 INT 3 sacks PG
Jalon 61.2 comp% 3 TD 5 INT 3 sacks PG
Baker is gimpy with a busted hand –
might as well keep Jalon
November 15th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Injury isn’t Mayfield’s problem, at least not the main one. It doesn’t force him to hold the ball for 4 seconds or more, or to try to make an extraordinary play rather than throw it away and move onto the next down. Mayfield needs a coach who manages his game mindset and discipline. Liam Cohen did it well, but Mayfield has regressed since then. Robinson obviously isn’t playing that role.
The other key question about Mayfield is one of age and potential. He’s “on” when amped up on Zyn or an adrenaline rush, but looks flat and frankly not playing smart at most times now. Is he “middle-aged” and washed out? He doesn’t seem able to maintain the high-energy state where he performs at his best.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
You talk how much you love his intangibles. Do you have any insight how much time he puts in the film room? I don’t know, but based on his constant stupid mistakes and interceptions, he doesn’t seem to have a good grasp of what his opponents are doing.
I also can’t help but remember on that Quarterbacks show, Baker spent the bye week pounding beers at the NY Marathon. I bet that’s not what Brady or Peyton spent their bye weeks doing.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
He should definitely not play if he’s injured. He can’t do it.
I’m a Baker guy as well, in Cleveland when he came back from the shoulder injury he wasn’t the same. He was clearly more inaccurate.
I am buying the injury excuse a bit last year as well, since he started the season playing very well. The team had other problems. I was of the opinion then that he shouldn’t have been playing last year when hurt.
This year… tough to buy excuses. Even if your OC sucks, protect the ball. That pick 6 in Chicago was horrendous. Getting harder to defend and appreciate Baker by the week. He is the glaring problem for this team now. Even Baker supporters like me can’t be blind to that. (Robinson still sucks and shoulders blame but he’s not out there throwing picks.)
November 15th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
baker is best in a slump when you roll him out or when the play breaks down. he’ll play bc he thinks he’s a hero lol
November 15th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
hee hee – now you KNOW that Bowles Licht and maybe even Robinson will be back next year – “injuries” , always injuries – they can keep that story running until they are good and ready to retire – the model is Arians at 74 years old – Todd is 62 and Licht is 55 – so we have at LEAST a dozen years of bad Bucs football ahead – embrace the suck – lol – another 10 or more years bitching about Bowles
November 15th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Oh boy – Joe.
Indeed – “here we go again”…
Just load up the excuse cannon for the good old Baker boy band of deeply closeted fanatics.
He WILL play next week and he WILL play bad once again.
This excuse WILL be utilized to cover the arse of our beloved “ROH” GM and the current HC.
It’s so transparent and pathetic…
November 15th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
When has he not been hurt the last 2 years? If he can’t run or scramble, that takes away a big part of his game. And he wasn’t playing well anyway. In fact, one of the things I thought they would incorporate would be rollouts since he’s decent passing in that space. I guess he won’t be doing that in this case. If he plays.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Hutchinson for Lions just got hurt…celebrating!! Im not hoping for something serious, just be out for next week’s game…it will save Baker from being sacked 5 times! So there’s that going for us
November 15th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
JD can surely match the worst statistical QB in the league. Or dare I say improve the passing attack? How could it be worse? Upgrade. Next man up, lfg!
November 15th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
i like daniels, but some of those short sideline throws he makes are very dangerous…
ints and pick 6’s waiting to happen…
trust in adam,,,,it’s a real issue with him…
and don’t forget he got lucky in dallas…one was dropped at the end of the game…if it was caught it was a pick 6 for a dallas win too
November 15th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Baker Mayfield interceptions and pick 6’s waiting to happen. At least it’s possible JD has been learning things in practice.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Injured means short, high percentage passes . If course, you play baker.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Daniels is worse than a hurt Baker. People have the memory of a goldfish. He single handedly cost us the Packers and Steelers game (Egbuka had a heavy hand in it too tbf) We only beat the Cowboys by handing it off and flukey defensive turnovers much like our other wins.
November 15th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
NEVER LIKED ZACH ROBINSON AS THE OFFENSIVE PICK.. NEVER LIT IT UP IN ATLANTA. WITH THE FALCONS. THIS GAME WAS THE RUNNING GAME WITH ROBINSON. SOUND FAMILIAR IN TAMPA WITH BUCKY ? REALLY HAD NO PASSING GAME THERE EITHER. WE ARE LAST IN THE LEAGUE WITH PASSING OFFENSE. HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE A STAR? RECEIVER, LIKE GODWIN NOT ON THE FIELD ? LIKE NEVER WITH ARE OTHER OFFENCE COACHES . COHEN WAS THE BEST FOR BACKER. ZAC HAS NO CLUE HOW TO BUILD A KILLER OFFENCE .
November 15th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Baker sucks it’s weird. He tries to play through injuries. Who does he think he is Kobe Bryant
November 15th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Breaking news baker Mayfield spotted at the local IHOP in Tampa, surprisingly not eating pancakes
November 15th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
can-we-get-rid-of-Licht-for-godsake? Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Actually Jalon and Baker currently have the same win pct : 33%
Baker has 154 passing YPG over 6 starts
Jalon has 167 passing YPG over 3 starts
Baker has 4.7 YPA rushing
Jalon has 5.6 YPA rushing
Baker 60.6 comp% 3 TD 4 INT 3 sacks PG
Jalon 61.2 comp% 3 TD 5 INT 3 sacks PG
Baker is gimpy with a busted hand –
might as well keep Jalon
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But Baker is GIVEN about $164M more than Daniels
November 15th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Anon Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Daniels is worse than a hurt Baker. People have the memory of a goldfish. He single handedly cost us the Packers and Steelers game (Egbuka had a heavy hand in it too tbf) We only beat the Cowboys by handing it off and flukey defensive turnovers much like our other wins.
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Silly Baker Boi who cares more about Baker than the Bucs. Have you been following him since high school? This is about football not romantic fantasies.
November 15th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Lmao already has the excuses ready for when he continues to plate bad. Its getting comical how badly he swindled this team
November 15th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
“We only beat the Cowboys by handing it off and flukey defensive turnovers much like our other wins.”
Oh you mean exactly like all of Baker’s wins this year when he passed for a grand total of 64 yards?
November 15th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Play Jalon no matter what! Zac Robinson couldn’t call working pass plays even if he had Dan Marino back there. Might as well put in the QB who can make plays with his feet.
November 15th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
ATLBuc. Silly Baker Boi. He is so silly that he thinks Baker will play next week. He’s probably silly enough to think bears shlt in the woods.
He’s probably not silly enough to equate fact- we’ve got a much,much better chance to beat Detroit with Baker- with something so silly as gay romantic fantasies with Baker Mayfield.
That would be your level of silly, alone, ATLBuc! Twit.
November 15th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
If Baker is hurt, he shouldn’t play. And if he (or anyone else) does play hurt, that’s on the coach, not the player.
November 15th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Excuses,Excuses and more Excuses for #6 already, the game hasn’t even been played yet…… & we are making things up for our, overrated and overpaid QB!
November 15th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Is he injured, or does he just suck…
November 15th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
So Kenton, do you want Baker to get more injured than he already is?
November 15th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
ATLBuc Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
can-we-get-rid-of-Licht-for-godsake? Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Actually Jalon and Baker currently have the same win pct : 33%
Baker has 154 passing YPG over 6 starts
Jalon has 167 passing YPG over 3 starts
Baker has 4.7 YPA rushing
Jalon has 5.6 YPA rushing
Baker 60.6 comp% 3 TD 4 INT 3 sacks PG
Jalon 61.2 comp% 3 TD 5 INT 3 sacks PG
Baker is gimpy with a busted hand –
might as well keep Jalon
Wrong on the win percentage for what it matters
Jalon 1W-3L Baker 2W 3L
Jalon threw an INT at the end of the Vikings game and we subsequently lost. That loss is on him
November 15th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Dom Says:
“We only beat the Cowboys by handing it off and flukey defensive turnovers much like our other wins.”
Oh you mean exactly like all of Baker’s wins this year when he passed for a grand total of 64 yards?
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Dom if you could just read what you quoted, I said much like our other wins. Like it’s right there. In your own post.
November 15th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
Unlike Baker? Ufa is on par with a seasoned franchise QB. Baker is a bust. Sure he has flashes every now and 5hen, but so did Tebo
November 15th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Hes playing . You are low iq if you think an ankle will keep him on the bench.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
We have to move on he stays hurt and it will always be a excuse for his bad play . Every year when he plays bad he gets a pass by saying I’m hurt.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
he doesnt throw with his foot. more shotgun is better anyway. just think of his foot as another injury like the thumb, they’ll lean on the run more, and thats good.
i’m probably not the only one tired of watching him drop back from center seeing the rush and getting happy feet, or just crushed. now with only one foot robinson has to do something different.
they arent going to sit him. at least i dont think so. not sure what stage of grief the haters are in. certainly not acceptance. some are certainly angry.
i like daniels, i dont care if they play him or not(doubt they do) but if they do they just need to make him part of the running game.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
ATLBuc Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Silly Baker Boi who cares more about Baker than the Bucs. Have you been following him since high school? This is about football not romantic fantasies.
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All I said is he’s even worse than a hurt Baker. This isn’t a compliment to Baker. It’s an indictment on the roster.
But that was enough to set you off into writing fiction about men having romantic fantasies for high school boys. This is why you’re not allowed near schools.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
November 15th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
…we’ve got a much,much better chance to beat Detroit with Baker…
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And you are basing that on……..Your man crush on rugged Baker? Just because he’s in your fantasies doesn’t make him a good football player right now.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Hmmmmmm! I seem to have pushed a button there. For a while, I wondered why any football person would want to see Baker on the field regardless of his horrible performances. But, I finally figured it out. But you guys aren’t really Bucs or football fans. We can take the foot out of it.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Oline protect for 3 seconds, kid will step up. He knows about running for his life.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Baker is the best quarterback in the NFL – and the league MVP when he’s healthy.
We just have to be patient.
But you wait, when Baker is healthy – he’s the best!
November 15th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Mayfield, 2-12 in primetime and playoffs games since coming to Tampa.
Daniels, 1-0 in primetime and playoff games.
Baker used to be able to run up his stats vs bad teams, but he can’t even do that anymore. He needs to be on the bench, Daniels is clearly the better QB and still has room for improvement. The Bucs need to know if they got their QB of the future or not – but we all know Baker is a bum, and is done – he literally hasn’t had a good game in well over a year now.
November 15th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Anyone else have baker fatigue?
November 15th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
only Bowles can find a way to lose on a bye week. jesus this franchise has got to draft a qb receivers and get a new hc and oc
November 15th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Daniels wasn’t a good college QB lol,, you guys are nuts lol! Baker will play, shame on JL for not having a quality back up QB that can play in the NFL,,, Cut Daniels immediately so these wieners can stop . If you want to play Daniels to go on a march for Arch , that’s one thing but Daniels won his last NFL game in Dallas with a bunch of rushes and a dropped pick 6 gave us the win.
November 15th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
How did the pick 6 work out for Baker last week? Oh wait the Bears weren’t bad enough to drop it!
November 15th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
If he can’t practice, he shouldn’t play.