Baker Mayfield has not missed a start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that 45-game streak is in jeopardy.
Mayfield’s sprained left shoulder is still in pain at mid-week, and he won’t be sure he can play in Sunday’s game against the visiting Arizona Cardinals until late in the week.
Teddy Bridgewater will start if Mayfield’s non-throwing shoulder doesn’t respond to treatment.
“It’s pain tolerance and management at that point,” Mayfield said of what he called a double-edged sword decision. “(We will) see how it goes through the week and go from there. I understand that we have Teddy. I have been in this spot before, hurting the non-throwing shoulder.
“If it’s going to hinder how I play, then I probably won’t go, but I won’t know that until later in the week getting practice reps and see how that goes.”
Mayfield injured the shoulder a couple of times during last week’s 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The most painful time came as he heaved the ball on a ‘Hail Mary’ pass to end the first half.
Bridgewater played the second half with Mayfield unable to continue.
“On the Hail Mary … it felt like my shoulder was unstable, which MRIs and all that revealed that it’s stable and everything is intact, so that’s really good news,” Mayfield said. “It’s really about feeling good enough to be able to rip the ball and feeling confident in it to finish through throws and stay on top of the ball.”
If Mayfield can’t play, Bridgewater will start for the first time since Week 17 in 2022 with the Miami Dolphins. Against the Rams, he completed 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards.
“We all have confidence in Teddy,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “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.”
The Buccaneers (6-5) have lost three straight games and four of the past five. They stand a half-game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.
Arizona (3-8) has lost three straight games and eight of the past nine. The Cardinals fell 27-24 in overtime to the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will be making his seventh consecutive start. He has thrown for 769 yards on 80-for-106 passing (75.5%) over the past two games.
Cardinals star tight end Trey McBride is tied for second in the NFL with 80 receptions, one behind leader Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers.
McBride has caught five or more passes in 13 straight games, tying the club record set by Larry Fitzgerald.
“I want him to touch the ball more than five times every game regardless of the streak,” Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said. “I’d like for him to touch it 10 times or 15 times because he is as talented as he is and plays the game the way he does and has such a big impact for us.”
Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis) returned to the field on a limited basis. He missed the past two games.
“It was good to see him running,” Brissett said of Harrison. “He went through something very traumatic. To have him back out there was really good and I’m excited to see how this week unfolds for him.”
The Cardinals ruled out defensive end Walter Nolen III (knee) on Wednesday. Among the players who missed practice were linebacker Josh Sweat (eye), guard Kelvin Beachum (groin) and running back Emari Demercado (ankle).
Outside linebacker Anthony Nelson (ribs) joined Mayfield as Bucs who sat out. Running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) practiced in full and is expected to return after a seven-game absence. Among the limited participants were receiver Chris Godwin (fibula) and linebacker Haason Reddick (ankle/knee).
The Buccaneers won the last two meetings, both by three points.
