Baker Mayfield's concerning shoulder injury might not be as devastating as initially feared.
The Buccaneers quarterback looked good in the team's Friday practice and is trending toward starting against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters.
Tampa Bay later officially designated Mayfield as questionable for Sunday's game. He was a full participant in Friday after he was limited on Thursday.
Mayfield suffered a left shoulder injury in the Buccaneers' blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday night, spending the second half wearing a sling while watching from the sideline. There was legitimate concern he might miss time as the week began, but after receiving positive results from an MRI and taking a cautious approach to most of the practice week, it appears Mayfield has improved enough to inspire optimism.
"He had to get well," Bowles said, via the team's official site. "He was very limited on Wednesday, he did a little more yesterday and he moved around perfectly today, so he's fine."
Bowles' synopsis is great news for Bucs fans who feared their team's injury problems might finally sink their ship with Mayfield's uncertain outlook. As the heart of the team and the engine that drives it, Mayfield is undoubtedly the most important player on the Buccaneers' roster, and the prospect of taking the field with 33-year-old backup Teddy Bridgewater seemed daunting, if not doomed.
Instead, it appears Bucs fans can gear up for another Sunday with No. 6 under center.