Buccaneers Get Scary Injury News on $100 Million QB

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. If your starting quarterback is sitting out with any type of injury it’s something we need to all stand up and take notice of.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a slight (for now) injury scare on August 1, when they announced 2-time Pro Bowl quarter Baker Mayfield wouldn’t practice after suffering a “hand contusion” the previous day.

“#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield won’t practice today after suffering a contusion on his throwing hand Thursday, per source,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on August 1. “Mayfield underwent scans as a precaution and ruled out a more significant injury. He’s day to day.”

“Mayfield hit his hand on a shoulder pad during his follow through in practice yesterday,” Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account. “Bucs feel fortunate overall.”

The result of Mayfield’s injury in the immediate future could mean the Buccaneers signing another quarterback to add depth.

“Bucs worked out a QB on Wednesday but didn’t sign him, and now with Mayfield and Pratt sidelined, it’s just Kyle Trask and rookie Connor Bazelak dressed today,” Fox Sports reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account.

Buccaneers Made Big Contract Move With Mayfield

The Buccaneers recently made a big contract move with Mayfield.

Mayfield signed a 3-year, $100 million contract before the 2024 season that runs through 2026. It included $50 million in guaranteed money, and that number now shoots up to $80 million guaranteed after Tampa Bay recently changed his contract to include an extra $30 million guaranteed for the final year of the deal in 2025.

“Buccaneers have reworked QB Baker Mayfield’s contract to give him $30M guaranteed in 2026 — a year that previously had no guarantees, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on July 28. “The length of the contract remains the same, but Mayfield now has financial security heading into next season, which is the final year of his deal.”

Mayfield signed a 1-year, $4 million contract with Tampa Bay in March 2023 following Tom Brady’s second retirement and has played the best football of his career over the last 2 seasons, including his first 2 Pro Bowl selections and consecutive NFC South Division titles.

Buccaneers Have Terrible Backup QB Options

While the Buccaneers have been great at finding personnel to fill other spots on their roster in recent years, one spot where they’ve failed to make any significant investments or moves has been at backup quarterback.

Trask is headed into his fifth year as Tampa Bay’s backup and signed a 1-year, $2.78 million contract on March 12 to be Mayfield’s backup for another season — money that indicates the Buccaneers don’t even think Trask is a mid-level NFL backup.

The really unfortunate thing about this situation is the Buccaneers could have easily found a premium level backup in the 2025 NFL draft simply by drafting University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was projected as a first round pick.

Sanders, who was eventually picked in the fifth round (No. 144 overall) by the Cleveland Browns, would have been a perfect QB2 option behind Mayfield.