Baker Mayfield
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
You don’t have to be an NFL insider with the highest level of contacts to understand there was something really wrong with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield in a Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
When Mayfield came back out of the locker room at halftime in street clothes, and with his arm in a sling, it should have been obvious. But sometimes it takes an insider to state the obvious.
“If you see a player on street clothes in a sling it means time will be missed … he’s had surgery on that shoulder before,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on SportsCenter on Monday, November 24. “He’ll have an MRI today to see the extent of the damage.”
Mayfield, who is in his third year as the starter for the Buccaneers, watched the second half of a 34-7 loss after he appeared to first hurt his left shoulder on a run in the first half then again on a failed Hail Mary attempt to end the first half.
“Buccaneers have ruled out Baker Mayfield for tonight due to a left shoulder injury,” Schefter wrote on his official X account during the game. “Baker Mayfield is on the sideline with his left arm in a sling.”
The Buccaneers dropped to 6-5 with the loss — their third consecutive defeat.
Mayfield Hasn’t Missed Game With Buccaneers
Mayfield has been one of the NFL’s most durable contracts in his first 3 seasons as the starter for the Buccaneers and hasn’t missed a game since signing a 1-year, $3 million contract before the 2023 season.
The game against the Rams was his 48th consecutive start for Tampa Bay, including regular season games and playoff games.
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, actually played part of one season for the Rams in 2022 before coming to the Buccaneers.
He made the first 2 Pro Bowls of his career in 2023 and 2024, when he led Tampa Bay to consecutive NFC South Division titles. The Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a 3-year, $100 million contract in March 2024.