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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield made it clear on Wednesday that he is feeling better and ready to lead his team into the second half of the season. As Bucaneers.com noted, after battling through knee and oblique injuries for weeks, the veteran QB said the bye week “definitely helped” him recharge both physically and mentally. “It definitely helps getting rest,” Mayfield told reporters. “Still moving my body around a little bit, not letting yourself get too sore, but then also just the non-contact definitely helps.” The Bucs’ Week 9 bye arrived at the perfect time for a team limping through multiple injuries. While running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Chris Godwin, and pass rusher Haason Reddick remain sidelined, other key contributors are starting to turn the corner. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who had been battling a hamstring issue, is now fully healthy and off the injury report. Mayfield, who was a full participant in practice Wednesday, continues to play through some discomfort, but he’s adamant that pain won’t dictate his performance. Mayfield Refuses to Make Excuses Throughout his career, Mayfield has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s toughest competitors, often playing through multiple injuries. Still, he’s not interested in using his current injuries as an excuse for Tampa Bay’s recent offensive struggles. “It’s not really an excuse, you just have to get used to it, figure it out and go from there,” Mayfield said. “Some throws, I didn’t have my feet perfect; they weren’t going to be accurate.” “Normally, I can make up for it with how I change my arm angle and stuff like that. Some of it was different, but you just have to live and learn.” Before the injuries began to pile up, Mayfield completed 66.2% of his passes through the first six games and was one of the front runners for MVP. Over the last two contests, that number dipped to 58.1%. Despite the drop in play, his leadership and toughness have kept the Buccaneers atop the NFC South and in playoff contention. Head coach Todd Bowles gave the team all seven days off during the bye week, something Mayfield said went a long way in restoring energy and focus across the locker room. Adjusting His Game Moving Forward Mayfield’s health has also influenced his mobility. Early in the year, he averaged over 26 rushing yards per game through his first six games, but he has totaled zero in his last two appearances. He attributes that not only to nagging injuries but also to how defenses have schemed against him. “A little bit of both,” Mayfield admitted. “Detroit did a great job with their pass rush lanes and also the spy and scheme overall. New Orleans didn’t do that as much, but I just had to get the ball out on time.” The Buccaneers now turn their focus to Sunday’s home matchup against the New England Patriots, a team that is 7-2 and atop of the AFC East. Mayfield will look to prove that his refreshed body and mindset can help Tampa Bay reestablish their early-season momentum. His message was simple: he’s not 100%, but he’s ready to go.
