Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield should be available to play in a Week 14 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, a league source told The Athletic on Monday.
A Carolina Panthers defender stepped on Mayfield’s right leg and the veteran quarterback had to exit the game for two plays before returning. He wore a walking boot after the game and is sore, but the ailment did not require any additional testing, the source added.
Mayfield threw an interception on his first play back in but proceeded to lead Tampa Bay on scoring drives in four of the team’s final five possessions. With the 26-23 overtime win over Carolina, Tampa Bay (6-6) is tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the division lead in the NFC South.
The 29-year-old signal caller is third in the league in touchdown passes (25) and completion percentage (70.8 percent), ranks sixth in passing yards (3,034) and ninth in quarterback rating (101.3). That stat line has picked up right where he led off from his strong 2023 season that saw him lead Tampa Bay to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.
This season, Mayfield has had to overcome injuries to wide receivers Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle in Week 7, out for the season) and Mike Evans (missed three games before returning in Week 12) to keep the team in the hunt for a fourth consecutive division title.
Required reading
-
- Examining the NFL playoff picture following Sunday’s slate
- NFL playoff projections 2024: The Athletic’s model predicts the field
(Photo: Matt Kelley / Getty Images)
