Baker Mayfield Fires Back at Lions’ Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Insulting Buccaneers QB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had a blunt response to recent remarks by Detroit Lions defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson regarding the Bucs’ offense.

Gardner-Johnson complimented Tampa Bay’s receiving corps as one of the best he’d ever faced. But in doing so, he also took a shot at Mayfield, telling reporters “If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that’s a good group.” 

Mayfield was asked for a response while meeting with the media on Wednesday and reminded people that he’s also good at trash talk. 

“I don’t think he’s really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage,” Mayfield said of Gardner-Johnson. “You know, we love Russell but Russell hasn’t played a snap all year for us.”

Gage suffered a season-ending knee injury during a joint training camp practice with the New York Jets in August.

“He must be going off preseason stuff that the media was talking about,” Mayfield added. “He didn’t play our first game so I’m excited to see him. I think he’s a really good player. He has been for a while. He’s been an impactful guy on every team he’s been on. … But yeah, he’s gotta do a little bit more film study.” 

As Mayfield alluded to, the Bucs and Lions played earlier this season with Detroit winning 20–6 at Tampa Bay in Week 6. The quarterback threw for 206 yards and one interception while Gardner-Johnson was out with a torn pectoral muscle. 

One of them should get the last word in Sunday’s divisional playoff matchup in Detroit.