Unhealthy Baker Mayfield Is A Neutered QB
November 28th, 2025
How hurt?
It appears Baker Mayfield may start Sunday after all.
At the end of Friday’s practice, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said that the Bucs quarterback, Mayfield, is “trending” toward playing on Sunday, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
Also, Bowles said of Mayfield, “He moved around perfectly today.”
Doesn’t sound like a guy who’s going to watch the game in street clothes.
Joe has to believe if Mayfield doesn’t start, he’s not suiting up. So that tells Joe, the way Bowles spoke of Mayfield, he will likely start on Sunday.
Now the question is, how much of Mayfield will the Bucs get? In past starts when he has been injured, Mayfield was a shell of his healthy self and very hesitant to run.
A non-running Mayfield is a neutered Mayfield. One of his best weapons is being able to scramble for first downs. Take his running away from him, Mayfield is little more than a stationary quarterback.
And, at times, when Mayfield has played but not been 100 percent, he could barely throw. The New Orleans game earlier this season and the Carolina game to end the 2023 season are perfect examples.
So the Bucs better be able to unleash the run game.
November 28th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
But Why?
Why not rest him so he can get healthy?
Why risk it?
November 28th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
This is just DUMB IMHO Joe
November 28th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
I agree with the Anthem. Should be able to beat the Cardinals with Bridge (over troubled) water.
November 28th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Because the alternative is Teddy Bridgewater. So your running and passing game are “neutered”
November 28th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
If he knows he can’t scramble, then he needs to start trusting his first and second reads more often. Honestly, I’m not sure why he doesn’t do that more when he is able to scramble. It seems like the majority of the time he gets himself into a situation where he has to scramble because he holds on to the ball too long and starts happy feeting around pocket. IT seemed like earlier in the season he was 5 step – 7 step drop then ball out. Now he is just holding on, maybe because he doesn’t even trust himself?
November 28th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Mayfield is plenty dangerous just passing if he has all his WRs. He only has to run when nobody is open- which happens a lot with this current crew and double coverage on Egbuka. Soon that will change once Godwin gets up to speed and Evans/McMillan come back. Hopefully Godwin has a great game Sunday which will also improve Egbuka’s prospects.
November 28th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
How about throwing it beyond the sticks….these 4 yard passes aren’t cutting it.
Defenses are ready for them…..when it’s 2nd or 3rd & 6…..throw it 7 yards please.
November 28th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
This is a must win for everyone’s confidence!! Players, coaches, and most of all us FANS!!!!! There is no way Baker could stand on the sidelines and watch, No way!!! We need some momentum, Go Bucs!!!!
November 28th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
We saw it in Cleveland I love baker a ton him being injured and “toughening it out” is not a great idea to win games. Hes already been hot and cold without the injury that will only become more drastic especially without big mike. Then again i have zero confidence in teddy 2 gloves with our team play caller and his inability to scramble so neither situation is ideal
November 28th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Always rest injured players. If you can’t win without them, you’re team isn’t good enough and deserves to lose. Teams have won superbowls with backup QBs.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Nothing good will come of letting an injured Baker Mayfield start.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
He’s starting because peoples jobs depend on it. Todd really needs a good defensive game, with a win. Can’t have a four game slide heading into December football.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Here is an idea; why don’t the Bucs provide adequate pass protection for Baker? He really hasn’t had it all year. Let your QB get the hell beaten out of him and then say he isn’t getting the job done. Brady wouldn’t tolerate shoddy pass protection. Baker covers for his guys all the time. He shouldn’t have too.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
If we can’t beat the Cardinals and Aints in consecutive weeks without Baker, we don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
Yes agree rest him!!. Yes the Bucs are in panic mode but risking further injury or aggravating the injury makes no sense. This to me is a poor coaching decision. Baker of course wants to play. ,However, he is not going to bench himself, we have seen that. However it appears benching him this game is in both Baker’s interest and the team. Sit him down coach!!!
November 28th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Joe … ‘And, at times, when Mayfield has played but not been 100 percent, he could barely throw. The New Orleans game earlier this season and the Carolina game to end the 2023 season are perfect examples. So the Bucs better be able to unleash the run game.’
Yes those 2 games were perfect examples … of what an ineffectivePassing Attack & Rushing Attack looks like, yet we won anyways.
In that 2023 Carolina game (Bucs won 9-0 based on hitting 3 FGs), Baker was 20-of-32 (62.5%) for only 137 yds, 0 TDs & 0 INTs. Our Run Game sucked also, based on 29 rushes for 113 yds (3.9 YPC), 0 TDs. Thankfully our defense showed up that day … Panthers had 9 drives; punted 6 times, had 2 fumbles, and missed 1 FG try.
In that Saints game earlier, Baker was 15-for-24 (62.5% again) for only 152 yds, 0 TDs & 0 INTs. Ironically our Run Game sucked also that game, based on 29 rushes for 88 yds (3.0 YPC), 1 TD. Thankfully our defense showed up that game also … Sains had 11 drives; punted 3 times, out-on-downs twice plus 1 End-of-Game drive, scored 1 FG, and had FOUR turnovers (2 INTs & 2 fumbles).
The Passing Game & the Run Game produced relatively little in both games … 1 TD and 6 FGs total. The Bucs’ DEFENSE was what made the difference. HOPEFULLY the same will hold true this Sunday.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Mistake. Baker will be badly hurt this game.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
We’ve experienced a playing-injured Baker and it is not pretty. I love his moxie. idk…maybe Teddy isn’t a great option either. Maybe his showing last week is what he’s showing in practice this week and Baker is the better choice.
Go Bucs?lol
November 28th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Ariz wins with or without Baker. I know the Bucs –
Even if we pull this out and somehow make playoffs —- we are one and done anyway.
November 28th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
The only thing that was hurt was his ” ego” and the ” injury” avoided the 💩 he was going to hear about for playing like 💩 once again. Funny in 2023, no injury excuse. He ,Godwin, Evans,White, Otton all played 17 games. The defense was 7th or 8th in points allowed,the lowest PPG in about 12-13 years. Yet Baker was 19th in completion % at 64.3. Jordan Love playing in GREEN BAY was 20th@64.2. We were the 20th ranked Offense. Baker was considered a top 15-20 QB. PFF had him at 19. For meaningless volume stats he was like 10-12 and would have been lower if Burrow and Herbert has not missed 30-40% of the season respectively. Kirk Cousins was still very good in 2023 and he missed about half the season. If you exclude W-L and just go off volume stats, Baker had more yards and tds then Lamar that year and Lamar won his Second MVP that year. Shows you how worthless volume stats are. And those 2023 stats were after a HOT 5-1 finish. 5-6 outside the division and 3-5 vs t ams with winning records. And about having new teams/OC SEE SAM DARNOLD the last few years. 3 teams in 3 years and 4 in 5. For the record last year, the Commanders defense gave up MORE points then ours in the regular season and their ROOKIE QB led them to the title game. Their defense gave up over 35 PPG in last year’s playoffs. And Washington had a much inferior roster to ours
November 28th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I remember 2 years ago you guys were complaining about Canales, saying Godwin was washed and complained about the defense that was 7th or 8th in points allowed and ranked high in turnovers. I get it AlOT of you are OU/Baker fans which is a cult at this point. From blaming everyone BUT him, the million excuses. Fan from the early 90s here since elementary school. This bum isn’t it.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Let him rest.
If we lose to Arizona, we’ll have gotten what we deserved.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Folly
November 28th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
I get the signing of Bridgewater to be a VOICE and EYES when breaking down game play with Baker, BUT, he should have been THIRD string and a SOLID vet QB should be #2. IF we throw Teddy out there, nothing good can happen.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
the cardinals are a really good team that does not know how to close the deal and win, gotta run the ball eric rhett style 3 yds and a cloud of rayjay dust age keep pounding the rock. seems like every game they start to get the run going then griz abandons it so baker can throw to guys who are not open
November 28th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Blah! Blah! Blah. Tampa Fans. Baker plays with heart and courage. The MRI showed a sprain. If the doctors say he can go, he goes. Arizona should have beaten Jags. QB completed long pass to the Jags 10 yard line with 35 seconds left, but Zona receiver started celebrating forgetting the team was out of time outs, so they had to settle for a tie in regulation.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
You knew Mayfield would play
If he can play, play him. Shoulders up matters. He’s our leader.
Protect him. Play him. Run the ball. Short and intermediate throws probably
November 28th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
If the Bucs had a good back up, maybe this would be dif
November 28th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Neutered? Baker is not a running quarterback; his running draws attention because he runs successfully in dramatic situations, out of necessity. These examples are, by definition, rare. Nor does he run often enough to say that the threat of the run is what makes his passing effective. He is an excellent throwing quarterback, as his overall stats show. That he has, on a minority occasions, had bad passing days, injured or not, doesn’t prove that his effectiveness depends on his ability to run the ball. On a small issue, I wonder about the Carolina game since it was at the end of the season and the Bucs OC was vying for an HC job with the Panthers. In fact, both of our recent losses in the playoffs involved OC’s auditioning for promotions on other clubs.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Not sure if it’s Baker pushing to play or Teddy B demonstrating (to coaches) he is no longer capable of putting consistent scoring drives together.
I used the correct punctuation.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
His legs still work just fine. Just don’t lower your shoulder and try to take a linebacker.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
The sprain of the left shoulder and everything tied into the shoulder that makes it function will ABSOLUTELY have an effect on how he can operate his right shoulder especially with explosive movement when throwing the football!
We have watched his throwing ability degraded before the shoulder sprain.
Of course Baker is going to say he can play… but he will not be effective.
He is one play from separating that shoulder or worse.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Baker starts because a loss to the Cards would doom the Toad’s HC position for next year.
Erickson, you spent a lot of time spewing out that drivel- -save it for you wife and kids.
November 28th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
So does Teddy Toothache have another dentist appointment scheduled for Sunday or something?