Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Injury Update for Week 13 vs. Carolina Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) will be taking on the Carolina Panthers (1-10) on Sunday in Week 13 of the NFL season.
Despite what their record says the Buccaneers aren't out of the playoff picture yet.
In fact, a win over the Panthers and Tampa Bay could find itself in a three-way tie for the best record in the NFC South Division if both the New Orleans Saints (5-6) and Atlanta Falcons (5-6) lose their respective contests.
So it's a pretty big deal for a team in this situation to have as many players available to them and with quarterback Baker Mayfield suffering an ankle injury in the Week 12 loss to the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) there had been some concerns about his availability this weekend.
Concerns coach Todd Bowles put to rest on Wednesday.
"He's feeling a lot better," coach Bowles said, in his trademark concise method of answering media questions, when asked how Mayfield's ankle was feeling that day.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata (90) in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Asked after that if he expected Mayfield to be available Bowles responded, "I do."
The burden on those transcribing Coach Bowles' press conferences does not go unnoticed, we promise.
Given the opportunity to praise or defend his players, however, Bowles is typically a little more willing to share, and he opened up more when asked about his quarterback's toughness.
"That's the way he was brought up and coached," Bowles said of Mayfield. "He's got an old-school mentality. He's got a work ethic that is undeniable. He loves to play the game and he does everything he can every week to be ready to play."
Nobody who's ever seen Mayfield compete at any level would question his toughness. Especially not the way some of us questioned whether or not he'd be able to play this weekend.
Ankle injuries are finicky, and just because he's feeling well enough to play on Sunday on Wednesday, doesn't mean he'll be feeling the same on gameday.
If he is, then there's no doubt the Buccaneers have a better chance of winning their fifth game of the season than without him.
