Bucs QB Baker Mayfield leaves loss to Rams early with left shoulder injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield left Sunday’s 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a left shoulder injury and did not return.

The injury is to Mayfield’s non-throwing shoulder. The Bucs ruled him out for the remainder of the game midway through the third quarter.

Mayfield returns after first-half injury

After a Tampa Bay drive in the first half, Mayfield went into the sideline medical tent without moving his left arm. He initially returned to the game on the ensuing Tampa Bay possession. But he grimaced in pain after falling on the last play before halftime, and the Bucs listed him as doubtful to return before Tampa Bay’s first possession of the third quarter.

The Rams led 31-7 when the Buccaneers initially announced Mayfield’s status. The severity of the injury wasn’t initially clear. Nor was it clear if the Buccaneers were simply taking a cautious approach with Mayfield’s injury in a game in which they trailed by 24 points at halftime.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said after the game that Mayfield sprained his left shoulder. He’ll undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity.

Backup Teddy Bridgewater took over for Tampa Bay’s first possession of the second half, and finished out the game.

Will Mayfield be healthy for stretch run, playoff fight?

With Sunday’s game already out of hand at the halftime break, the attention on Mayfield’s status immediately shifted to the long-term. The Buccaneers entered Sunday with a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South.

The loss to the Rams dropped them to 6-5 and into a tie with a Panthers team that they’ve yet to face. The Bucs and Panthers will meet first in Week 16 in Charlotte then again in Tampa in each team’s regular-season finale in Week 18, which could ultimately determine the NFC South champion.

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The Bucs next face the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 30. They’ll certainly hope to have Mayfield back for that game and beyond.

Mayfield is coming off consecutive Pro Bowl appearances in his first two seasons in Tampa and is in the midst of another standout campaign in 2025. Prior to Sunday’s game, Mayfield had completed 63.5% of his passes for 236.5 yards per game with 17 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in 10 games.

Bridgewater is one of the NFL’s most experienced and capable backup quarterbacks. But Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes could go as Mayfield’s health does.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield leaves loss to Rams early with left shoulder injury

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