Lavonte David: Baker Mayfield Struggled With Significant Injuries
April 4th, 2026
Clearer truths are coming out.
Why did Baker Mayfield go from MVP candidate in September and October last year to an average-at-best starter in the second half of the season?
There are lots of reasons, but the extent of Mayfield’s injuries and how they were affecting him were unclear.
Retired Bucs linebacker Lavonte David shed light on that yesterday during his sitdown with The Arena. “The season’s over now, I can talk about it,” David said.
“Man, Baker was going through a lot, bro,” David said. “Baker had a lot of injuries that you didn’t expect a quarterback to play through. You know what I’m saying? He had the oblique injury, he had the shoulder injury, he had a lot of things. You know, ankle injury, knee injury. … He was really trying to push through and really trying to be the player that we needed him to be.”
David said he thought Baker played ok late in the season but throwing to rookies and missing key players, including offensive linemen, are massive challenges. David also suspected Emeka Egbuka needed more time to adjust to being the team’s No. 1 receiver and drawing massive attention from defenses.
Mayfield playing “lights out” early in the season and tailing off is an indicator, per David, as to how much he was hurting physically.
Then former Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib said he could hear in David’s voice that Bucs morale had slipped because of so many injuries and bubbling frustration, including from Todd Bowles. David said he could agree with that sentiment.
April 4th, 2026 at 7:53 am
That’s because Baker is a warrior and we’re lucky to have him. Get him resigned put stability at the top part of your franchise. This guy is a franchise quarterback. It’s obvious to anybody that watches him. Anybody that doesn’t like him? They’re just a hater.
April 4th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Truth be Told is 100% Correct!!
April 4th, 2026 at 8:00 am
If he was like Jameel Dean he would have sat out the last 9 games. Baker is a tuff
Dude and now we have a decent backup unlike last year. That’s the main reason SF survived all the injuries because they had a good backup QB and backup players were ready to step in. No Charlie Heck’s there. Go Baker!
April 4th, 2026 at 8:07 am
Excuses and more excuses. All those injuries and I don’t recall any articles, anywhere on the web about him getting surgery or a procedure done for any of these injuries. Do you think LVD would be saying all this if the Bucs made the playoffs? And if the injuries we’re really the cause, and the Bucs believe in his “talent”, then where is his extension?
Everyone but Baker says he was injured. He won’t be able to use that excuse this year. He has to play lights out, consistently, for 17 games or he won’t be back. If the Bucs are smart that is. All these Bucs players doing interviews just want fans to accept mediocrity. Gotta love it.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:12 am
That’s what happens what you have a beat up OLine
April 4th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Muscle Hampster Says: “That’s what happens what you have a beat up OLine” Yea that and your QB plays with a middle linebacker mentality. Resign Baker.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:27 am
You can have injuries that don’t require surgery
April 4th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Yep, when you’re Oline gets a lot of injuries, your QB will get a lot of injuries eventually. He took a lot of hits, has the mentality to do what he has to to get that first down. I wish he would slide more often than dive but he has too much Steve Young in him.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Baker Mayfield ‘playing lights out’? Let’s be real. He’s the same QB he’s always been, talented, yes, but heavily dependent on having strong talent around him. When everything is in place, he can look great. Take that away, and he drops back to being a pretty average, inconsistent quarterback with more excuses than answers. At some point, you have to accept he’s just a mid-tier QB, not a true difference-maker.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:44 am
I’m just amazed how some people won’t accept reality over their own fantasies and agendas. Lavonte tells you the truth but you still won’t accept it.
Just move on.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Lavonte seems to be speaking up more now than ever before —- it is an interesting new side of him.
April 4th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Baker can be his own worst enemy trying to play through injuries rather than resting and coming back ready to fire. Helps to have a competent backup though. No qb is 100% healthy late in the season but resting for a game or two can have a major impact on the team’s success down the stretch. Baker needs to better embrace that mentality rather than running through a wall when already hurting. You’re not helping the team long term.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Which is why we needed to sign a 1B QB. While Browning may be an upgrade from Timid Teddy, he’s still a #2. Already knowing how Baker is going to play JL could’ve spent more to hedge his bet on him. Easier said than done. With so many other glaring needs on D I understand why he took a budget approach to QB2.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Those on the inside see the truth while those on the outside deny the truth because it tends delute their hate for Baker! On the outside looking in, one can speculate that if the Bucs had signed a quality backup quarterback and average backups for the offensive line, the 2025 season would have been better.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:20 am
“Why did Baker Mayfield go from MVP candidate in September and October last year to an average-at-best starter in the second half of the season?”
Injuries to Bucky, the Gs, Evans, and himself,
Coupled with bad attitudes of guys like White and Grizzard not being very good and Bowles being incapable of motivating anyone.
The pass blocking was ridiculous last year.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:36 am
He was def playing hurt. It was easily evident that was the case.
The issue with him being hurt is it’s the way he plays. This isn’t going to be a one off. If he’s going to last and be worth another contract he has to play less recklessly.
I don’t know how or who can get it into his head. Maybe him turning 32 and having to slow down might help him adjust but with the way he’s wired I don’t see it.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:39 am
Excuses, Excuses, dump the bum. Trade for D Watson….note this is sarcasm.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:41 am
No playable guards+injuries=lethal combo.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:44 am
As long as Baker continues his penchant for playing hero ball this will be the result. Brady had the wisdom to dirt the pass or duck and hit the turf if he saw he was about to get blasted.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:46 am
“Man, Baker was going through a lot, bro,” David said. “Baker had a lot of injuries that you didn’t expect a quarterback to play through. You know what I’m saying? He had the oblique injury, he had the shoulder injury, he had a lot of things. You know, ankle injury, knee injury. … He was really trying to push through and really trying to be the player that we needed him to be.”
David said he thought Baker played ok late in the season but throwing to rookies and missing key players, including offensive linemen, is a massive challenge. David suspected Emeka Egbuka needed more time to adjust to being the team’s No. 1 receiver and drawing massive attention from defenses.
Mayfield playing “lights out” early in the season and tailing off is an indicator, per David, as to how much he was hurting physically.
.
I love being right.
Also…there you go, Rod. 😉
April 4th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Amer took a lot of unnecessary hits, you can’t blame the O-Line
The worst hits he took was against the Houston Texans
When Will Anderson lit him up, l thought he was gone for the season
You can be a tough guy, but at the same time, you gotta be a Smart Guy
Once you’re outside of the pocket, the OLine can’t protect you
He had an opportunity to slide against Will Anderson, he had run for 15 yards
Instead of sliding,, he tried to bulldozer Will, that’s insane thinking
April 4th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Baker had, or seems to have had way too strong a tendency to play through serious injury. I like Licht, but that Teddy Bridgewater signing was really stupid. Then we had Ballzac or whatever his name is. The only notable thing about Ballzac was that he was even worse than Bilgewater. Then you add in all the other injuries and a basket case of a defense and the worst special teams I have ever seen…..
No wonder the whole team quit.
Question is: will they quit again this year?
April 4th, 2026 at 9:53 am
“”Baker took a lot of unnecessary hits****
April 4th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Bee Says:
“Excuses and more excuses. All those injuries and I don’t recall any articles, anywhere on the web about him getting surgery or a procedure done for any of these injuries. … And if the injuries were really the cause, and the Bucs believe in his “talent”, then where is his extension?”
Bee, I’ll tell you…that’s very…well, I’m not going to insult you. Not my style anymore.
There were no articles because if the NFL feels the Bucs should not have allowed him to play through those injuries, they could have been fined. In addition, they were injuries that either did not require surgery, or injuries that he chose not to get surgery for (it’s entirely up to the player on these things).
And so far as the extension…not the Bucs style. For the most part, the Bucs wait until the contract ends to extend. There have been a few exceptions…but for the most part, they wait.
In this particular situation though…blame Todd Bowles.
If Bowles really is on the hot seat (I have my doubts), then that means a new coach may be hired in 2027…and that coach might want his own QB. Or…if Bowles does so badly we get a high draft pick, the new coach might draft a QB.
So Jason Licht is being smart. It has next to nothing to do with Baker…who the Glazers are committed to.
April 4th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Fred McNeil Says:
“I like Licht, but that Teddy Bridgewater signing was really stupid.”
My theory is that because the team was trending up and Mayfield had been so healthy…and Todd Bowles had always wanted to coach Teddy, Licht threw him a bone.
In hindsight, you are 100% right. It was a BIG mistake. One I do not think Licht will make again.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:02 am
I don’t remember any of these injuries being reported on the weekly injury reports sent to the NFL. What concerns me is that Baker, who is in the prime of his life, did not recover from these injuries over the last half of the season.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Mayfield’s extension is a done deal. This was negotiated back when he first signed with the Bucs! Only a matter of making it fair for both sides.
For the poster who said he needs elite talent, What QB doesn’t need elite talent? Maybe Josh Allen! He didn’t make it far either. Burrow has elite talent and still can’t get it done. Not to mention the hype train on Justin Herbert.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Seriously, Baker needs to play smarter. DON’T TAKE HITS FOR EGO. I read all the “Bakers a warrior….” comments blah blah blah. How did that help when he wasn’t healthy toward the end of season and that lack of health hurt the team?
He’s proven he’s tough to the team and franchise, no need to do that every game taking on hits from DBs and LBs. Slide, run out of bounds, get down and save the heroics for heroic situations. No need to try and be a hero every play. Throw it away, call the next play.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Bee, you say above that Baker will no longer be able to use the injury excuse. Well, that’s not the case. If he actually gets injured. The difference this year is we have a viable backup. And I certainly hope that Todd utilizes that as needed. I think last year had we had a viable backup, things might have been different.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:14 am
Excuses. Nothing but excuses. If Baker wins 8 games next year he will be looking for a job. Same with Todd. The only QB stat is wins. Period. Baker knows this. Does anybody think Grizz’s would be gone if Baker hadn’t OKd it? Come on now. White and Mike? I think they were as tired of Baker as he was of them. Otten has been Mayfield’s best friend since he got here. And Godwin and Wirfs. And the Oline. Because they play with respect for the game like he has. I think Egbuka and Tez and this new Steelers running back have that same mentality too. We’re gonna contend for a Super Bowl for the foreseeable future. And I ain’t whistling Dixie.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Bonzai, I think you already know that Rodney will never get off his high horse about Baker. He is incapable of not blaming him for his poor play at the end of the year. Defense? Others have pointed out how the defense let us down at the end of the season. Which was obvious to anyone watching. But no, it was all Baker. Which is obviously untrue but for some that have that mindset, you will never get them to come off it. Which is too bad. In the face of obvious evidence, you would like to think that people would change their minds. But ego gets in the way.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Can’t forget JMac. He’s right in line and intends to stay there. I love that kid.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Bonzai
I agree with most of what you said, yes, Bowles is mostly to blame allowing him to play injured. But my point is this, GMs, coaches and players LIE ALL THE TIME. And the reason why I’m not fully on board with the injury excuse is because he get injured annually and still starts games. And hes done that with multiple teams. You can’t be injured and starting. Mike was injured because he missed games.
Steven007
Baker had a bad season last season at worst and had a great 6 games early in the season at best. My point is if he has another season like last year, he won’t be able to use the injuries as an excuse because he’ll want a new deal and be paid like Cousins. How can he sell himself to the Bucs and the league if he’s been injured 2 straight years and played poorly. Bowles had many chances to get a better backup for a QB who routinely gets injured but chose to hire his friend smh. Last year wouldn’t have been different because Bowles will never start another QB as long as Baker is here. Hes shown that year after year.
Guys…No matter how you feel about Baker, good or bad, hes inconsistent and injury prone because he a QB that plays like a RB. Hes can’t play any other way. Thats why when he can’t run, hes not effective. Hes not going to carve up defenses, he needs his legs. So as he gets older, he’ll be less effective. If your QB is inconsistent, you can’t consistently win.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Sound like an excuses to me. Don’t eat this guy. He is not the answer at QB. The Bucs should have started the rebuild already.
April 4th, 2026 at 10:47 am
*Eat=extend
April 4th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Bee, no matter how much you rant and rail about Baker and attack other posters, the simple fact is that he WILL be the Bucs starting quarterback next year.
And when the team piles up wins, you will start supporting them.
It’s what happened before. Just chill – have alot of time to go before the regular season kicks off. I’d rather discuss who wil get drafted instead of the Baker stuff
I just wonder if 3rdmatic is yours or Rod’s sockpuppet.
April 4th, 2026 at 11:08 am
If every injury was reported , most of the league would be on it each week. Baker is going to reset the market top qbr in play offs. 3rd highest qbr in 2024. I’m looking forward to the trail of tears on this blog when he signs . 🤩
April 4th, 2026 at 11:28 am
We need a head coach that is going to bench Baker when he is injured. Let him get healthier and put him back after a game or two. Head coach needs to manage the team properly. SMH
April 4th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Jcscycles
Who did I attack? What did I say specifically that was an attack? This will more than likely be his last season and if they resign him, fine, just expect the same results the Bucs have had.
April 4th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Personally if your hurt you should sit out eff that warriors ish I need a healthy qb or at least one at 80 percent if that’s not possible bring in the back up and honestly if the back up sucks that still what you go with until qb1 is available above 80 percent not baker and 40 percent
April 4th, 2026 at 11:59 am
3rdmatic Says:
April 4th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Sound like an excuses to me. Don’t eat this guy. He is not the answer at QB. The Bucs should have started the rebuild already.
———————————————————————————–
OK, 3rdmatic, if you don’t believe he is the answer, who IS the answer? Who would you sign as the Bucs next starting QB?
April 4th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
I don’t understand Josh Allen played with a broken foot most of the year and he lead his team to the second round playoffs with a lesser roster than Baker Mayfield. Josh Allen had a good runningback and washed up receiver in Diggs. Josh Allen actually had surgery right after the season. Baker gets the significant injury excuse but he never need surgery on none of the injuries they say he had . I actually went back and watched the last games of the season and Baker was not hurt like you guys say he was. And listen ain’t no player in the NFL is a 100 percent. It’s crazy how how Jamies never got these same excuses and I told y’all I was going to show you guys how y’all pick and choose who you guys give excuses to. And now look Baker Mayfield single handed lost the Panthers, Dolphins he couldn’t close out the Saints Falcons and I’m not going to even bring up the rams because both sides of the ball was bad . Baker Mayfield Lost the eagles game as well by throwing a pick in the red zone and this is the quarterback y’all want to be the franchise quarterback? Lol 🤣🤣 if I’m the Glazers I would resign Baker Mayfield right now because meadicory is ok with this fan base . But I don’t think Baker wants to be here anymore because Mike Evans is gone and you know for Baker to play well everything has to be perfect because he can’t put teams on his back and win or close out big games. We blame the defense for putting the games in Baker hands on last minutes drives and when he throws picks on those drives it’s the defense fault, Todd Bowles and the OC fault.
April 4th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
We knew Baker was hurt, everybody knew it except for Rod Munch…What was Bowles excuse for such poor coaching performance? Was he in a diabetic coma from eating a family sized pack of Oreos in one sitting?
April 4th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Oneilbuc: Are you a doctor in your spare time?
April 4th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Bee Says, so if the Bucs do not sign Baker to extension and he lights it up in 2026 with the best year ever and moves on to a different team with a truck load of cash, you will never change your opinion of him, right!
April 4th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
Bee Says, so if the Bucs do not sign Baker to extension and he lights it up in 2026 with the best year ever and moves on to a different team with a truck load of cash, you will never change your opinion of him, right!
April 4th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
In all 3 of Bakers seasons with the Bucs he was the only QB. There was NO confidence in either Trask or Bridgewater. Licht knew this for 3 years and did NOTHING. His misfeasance caught up with him in 2025 and is the number 1 reason for the late season collapse. IMO, this is a terminatable offense.