Baker Mayfield: Everything you need to know

Mayfield completed 16 of 22 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed four times for 31 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He also fumbled once but recovered. Mayfield averaged an impressive 9.2 yards per attempt while connecting with both Mike Evans and Cade Otton for passes of 20-plus yards. The veteran signal-caller's only touchdown toss came early on, as he connected with Otton from 18 yards out to cap off a nine-play game-opening drive. Mayfield repeatedly focused on Otton throughout the afternoon for several more productive gains, although his one interception in the second quarter at his own 39-yard line did lead to a Panthers touchdown. Mayfield wraps up the 2025 regular season with the lowest completion percentage (63.2) and passing yardage total (3,693) of his three-year Buccaneers tenure, but he and his teammates will be pulling for the Saints to defeat or tie the Falcons on Sunday in order to be able to continue playing in next weekend's wild-card round as the NFC South champions.

Mayfield (right shoulder/knee) was a full practice participant Wednesday. One day removed from being limited at Tuesday's walkthrough due to right shoulder and knee injuries, Mayfield had no on-field restrictions. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard confirmed as much Wednesday, telling Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site that Mayfield is "ready to roll." Mayfield thus is set to lead a Tampa Bay team that needs a win against the Panthers on Saturday, combined with a Falcons loss or tie Sunday versus the Saints, to lock down the No. 4 seed in the NFC side of the playoffs.

The Buccaneers listed Mayfield as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice due to knee and right shoulder injuries, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports. Mayfield had notably been listed with a left shoulder injury on Buccaneers injury reports from Weeks 13 through 15, but he's now contending with an issue to his throwing shoulder along with his knee coming out of this past Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. With the NFC South title at stake this weekend, Mayfield isn't expected to be in any real danger of missing Saturday's matchup with the Panthers, but the pair of injuries may only cast further doubt about the quarterback's chances of returning to his early season form in Week 18. During Tampa Bay's current four-game losing streak, Mayfield is averaging 222.5 passing yards per contest and has thrown for six touchdowns while turning the ball over six times (five interceptions, one lost fumble).