Buccaneers’ Star QB Baker Mayfield’s Injury Raises Eyebrows — Is Tampa Bay’s Season at Risk?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t taking any chances when it came to what turned out to be a relatively minor injury to 2-time Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield — the one player who their season completely goes in the tank without.

That’s why it was such a relief to the Buccaneers and their fans see Mayfield return to practice on August 5 after sitting out the previous 2 practices with a hand contusion suffered on July 31.

“#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 has thrown more touchdown passes (69) than anyone in the NFL over the last season and has led Tampa Bay to consecutive NFC South Division titles and made his first 2 Pro Bowls in his first 2 seasons as their starting quarterback.

“Baker Mayfield is back practicing today after missing two days last week with a hand contusion,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account.

The Buccaneers open the preseason on August 9 at home against the Tennessee Titans.

Bucs Already Dealing With Significant Injury Issue

If Mayfield’s health is truly the most important component to the Buccaneers having a successful season, then left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is the second most important.

For the Buccaneers, who are having a drama free training camp to this point, a knee injury to Wirfs which required arthroscopic surgery has been perhaps the biggest storyline.

Wirfs is the unquestioned top player at his position in the NFL right now and the first player in NFL history to be named NFL All-Pro at both right offensive tackle and left offensive tackle.

ESPN reported on July 9 that Wirfs would miss training camp and could very well be out for the first month of the regular season.

From ESPN: “Wirfs likely will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, sources confirmed to ESPN. If he is placed on the PUP list, Wirfs would miss at least Tampa Bay’s first four games.”

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound former first round pick has only missed 5 games, total, through his first 5 NFL seasons, where he’s been a 3-time NFL All-Pro, 4-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.

Before the 2024 season, the Buccaneers made Wirfs the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history with a 5-year, $140.6 million contract extension.

Mayfield Playing For Massive Payday in 2025

It’s safe to say, at least in terms of money, that 2025 is the biggest year of Mayfield’s career.

The Buccaneers made the unique move of guaranteeing the final season of the 3-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Buccaneers before last season, upping the guaranteed money in the contract from $50 million to $80 million.

It’s an early signal the Buccaneers could be ready to make an even bigger, more long term investment in Mayfield if he can continue to perform at a high level. For Mayfield, that could mean something along the lines of a a contract extension that pays him between $50 million to $60 million per season.