Baker Mayfield went down with a shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and when fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw him on a sling during the second half of the 34-7 defeat, it might as well have been like their season was over then and then.
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, who went down on Sunday with a sprained left shoulder, has a low-grade sprain, source said following the MRI. Good news with an eye toward next week. pic.twitter.com/eBMsZ3up5f
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2025
Thankfully, the injury seems to have been more dramatic than actually problematic for the quarterback, and it could even be that he will be able to appear on Sunday, as the Buccaneers face the Arizona Cardinals for the Thanksgiving weekend.
What Happened to Baker Mayfield?
During Week 12’s “Sunday Night Football” defeat to the Rams, the Buccaneers quarterback took a series of big hits from the physical opposing defense. He initially left the game to have his shoulder evaluated in the medical tent in the second quarter.
While he was initially able to return to the game, he was ultimately forced off the field near the end of the first half. In the second half of the game, he could be seen on the sidelines with a sling, which brought fears that the injury could be a serious one.
Will Baker Mayfield Play Week 13?
Following an MRI this week, it was confirmed that he only suffered a low-grade sprain to his left shoulder. The prognosis is that he should be back in action in a week. Whether that is this Sunday or in Week 14 hasn’t been confirmed.
Importantly, Mayfield hasn’t been ruled out for Week 13 officially.
Baker Mayfield Fantasy Outlook
Keep him long term; it doesn’t look like the injury will keep Mayfield off the field for a long time. Mayfield has been great so far this season, the main reason why Tampa Bay has a positive record and a serious chance of making the playoffs. The problem is more related to this week, as it looks like there’s a good chance he could miss the game. We wouldn’t recommend playing him this weekend for that reason.
Best Fantasy Replacements If Baker Mayfield Misses This Week
You could look up Teddy Bridgewater, who would be poised to take over the starting spot against the Cardinals if Mayfield isn’t ready. While it has been a while since Bridgewater has played regular football, against the Cardinals, he shouldn’t have that hard a time.
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