CLEVELAND, Ohio — On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield provided a rare glimpse into the physical challenges he’s been navigating while leading the offense.
The former first overall pick has been battling an oblique injury that appeared on recent injury reports, but in classic Mayfield fashion, he’s refusing to use it as a crutch.
“I mean it’s not really an excuse. You just got to get used to it. Um figure it out and go from there,” Mayfield explained. “Yeah, some throws if I didn’t have my feet perfect, they weren’t going to be accurate and normally I can make up for it, with how I change my arm angle and stuff like that.”
What makes this admission particularly significant is the timing. The Buccaneers are entering what Mayfield describes as when “real football starts” - the crucial middle stretch of the season that often separates contenders from pretenders. It’s a period that has coincided with team-wide injury issues for Tampa Bay in previous seasons.
The offensive line has been particularly hard hit, with Cody Mauch sidelined and Luke Goedeke only recently returning to practice. These are two players Mayfield specifically identified as guys who “enforce the physicality on the offense,” making their absences particularly challenging for a team that relies on establishing the run to set up their passing attack.
Yet unlike in previous years, Mayfield sees something different about this Buccaneers squad and their approach to adversity.
“I think we’ve already shown that, just with all the guys that have come in there and stepped up in a big way. Some of the young guys or veterans that have stepped up for us and guys have shown, that it’s a resilient group and that they’re able to handle whatever we throw at them,” Mayfield observed.
This resilience extends beyond just weathering injuries. When asked about the team standing pat at the trade deadline rather than seeking reinforcements, Mayfield expressed complete confidence in the current roster.
“We’ve said we felt really good about the team that we have from the beginning,” Mayfield said.
What’s remarkable about Mayfield’s approach is how he’s adapted his game while managing pain. Analysts have noted fewer scrambles in recent games, which the quarterback attributes partly to defensive adjustments but also implies could be related to his physical condition.
The bye week came at a perfect time for Mayfield and the banged-up Bucs, providing crucial recovery time.
“Definitely helps getting rest, still moving the body around a little bit, not letting yourself get too sore,” Mayfield said.
As Tampa Bay prepares for their next challenge, Mayfield’s gritty determination sets the tone for a team that’s proving its mettle not despite injuries, but through how they respond to them.
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