Sources: Bucs get good news on Mayfield's MRI

TAMPA, Fla. — The MRI for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield revealed a low-grade AC joint sprain in his left shoulder but no additional damage, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday.

An additional source told ESPN that the general feeling is that Mayfield is pretty fortunate to have not sustained a more serious injury.

Mayfield’s status for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals remains uncertain, but there are no long-term injury concerns.

Mayfield was injured in the Buccaneers’ 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night — their third straight loss, which dropped them to 6-5 this season.

After leading the Buccaneers on a touchdown drive late in the second quarter, Mayfield went into the medical tent on the Buccaneers’ sideline. He was listed as questionable to return because of the injury but returned for Tampa Bay’s next drive.

“I mean, when he goes out, he’s obviously really hurt because he’s a tough guy,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “When he went in the tent, you could see it on his face when he came off the field, you kind of knew something happened right there.”

After attempting a long pass on the final play of the first half from the Tampa Bay 37-yard line with 5 seconds to go, Mayfield fell to the ground and appeared to be in pain again. He was labeled doubtful to return after halftime, then was ruled out later in the third quarter. He was seen on the sideline with his left arm in a sling.

He was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater, who would start for Tampa Bay if Mayfield, who has led the Bucs to two straight NFC South division titles, misses time.

Bowles said earlier Monday that losing Mayfield would be a “big loss because of the way he’s been playing and carrying us the past few weeks — and even last year.”

“At the same time, we all have confidence in Teddy. We know what he can do and we know what kind of confidence level he brings, too. It’s a different kind of energy, but yet energy that we all feed off of and expect.”

Bridgewater completed 8-of-15 passes for 62 passing yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions after Mayfield had gone 9-of-19 for 41 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

“He’s a different quarterback, so schematically, we’ll have to do some different things for him to make him feel comfortable within the offense and do a lot of things he likes to do,” Bowles said of Bridgewater. “There are some similar things, but there are also some differences that way to make him more comfortable. He’s been here long enough to where if he had to go, we can tweak it the right way for him to be successful.”

Mayfield has never missed a start in his three seasons with the Bucs, starting all 45 regular-season games thus far. The last time he missed a game due to injury was with the Carolina Panthers in 2022 when he suffered a high ankle sprain.

The last time Bridgewater started a game was in 2022 with the Miami Dolphins, a 23-21 loss at the New England Patriots.