Bucs head coach Todd Bowles seemed confident that injured quarterback Baker Mayfield would be ready to start against his former team in Carolina on Sunday. But after Mayfield didn’t participate in Wednesday’s walk-through practice due to sore ribs, Bowles’ tone about his quarterback’s certainty to play on Sunday seemed to change.

“He would not have practiced today,” Bowles said. “I know he’s going to do everything he can to play. I’m not a doctor. I can’t feel what Baker’s feeling, so I can’t tell you how he’s going to feel if he’s able to play. If he can play, I know he’s going to try to play.”

Bowles was asked if he thought Mayfield would be ready by Sunday with more time to rest and recover.

“Got to see how he’s feeling,” Bowles said. “I can’t answer that.”

During his press conference on Wednesday Mayfield said he was “pretty sore, but I’ll be good.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mayfield said he had some more tests on his ribs after Sunday’s initial x-rays after the game but they came back positive with “no cracks, no fractures.”

Mayfield said his recovery and ability to play on Sunday against his former team will depend on his pain tolerance more than anything.

“Just one of those things that, you know, it’s tender,” Mayfield said. “I’ve dealt with rib injuries before, but just rest – and just as the week goes on it always helps. Obviously I didn’t exactly test it out today. Just more mental reps for everybody, but yeah, just going to see … I haven’t tested it out, so I’ve just got to get loose. I’m sure by the time – closer to game time – the adrenaline will be rolling, especially with where we’re sitting at right now situationally.

“I’ll do everything I can to be out there – that’s for sure. Division on the line, playoff hopes on the line, and going back to Carolina. Yeah, I’ll do everything I can.”

Throwing, Taking Hits Will Be A Challenge Due To Baker Mayfield’s Rib Injury

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield insinuated that throwing a football could be challenging due to the turning, twisting and torquing motions, but that staying loose in practice and during the game will be critical.

“It’s one of those things where you constantly have to stay warm,” Mayfield said. “You can’t let it tighten up. You’ve got to continually be loose, whether it’s hot packs on the sidelines or making sure you get the extra work in. Every one of [my rib injuries] is different, but especially for a quarterback having to rotate to throw – you just have to stay loose.”

Playing with sore ribs is one thing. But getting hit and sacked and taken to the ground with a rib injury is something else. He admitted that he will wear a special flak jacket on Sunday for added protection.

“We’ll see what we can do – Kevlar maybe,” Mayfield said.

Bucs Preparing Kyle Trask In Case Baker Mayfield Can’t Start – Or Finish

Bucs OC Dave Canales and QBs Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said that backup quarterback Kyle Trask would take additional reps this week in practice in case Baker Mayfield can’t start – or finish – the game in Carolina due to his rib injury.

“We’ll give him some more reps,” Bowles said. “He’s been preparing all year. If Baker is sore tomorrow Trask will get the reps then we’ll kind of go from there.”

Trask’s playing time in the regular season is extremely limited with the vast majority of his live action taking place in a Week 18 loss at Atlanta in 2022. He has served as Tampa Bay’s backup quarterback this season after spending his first two years with the Bucs as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Tom Brady and veteran backup Blaine Gabbert.

Other Bucs Injury News

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles indicated that two defensive starters – cornerback Carlton Davis III and outside linebacker Shaq Barrett – continued to trend in a positive direction for them to play in Carolina on Sunday. Davis missed the Saints game due to a concussion, and has yet to be cleared from the concussion protocol. Barrett suffered a groin injury at the end of the win over the Jaguars and also missed the New Orleans game.