Buccaneers Coach Todd Bowles Gives Update on Baker Mayfield's Injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield finished the game in their 27-20 loss to the Colts after injuring his ankle on the first drive, but how will it affect him moving forward?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans collectively held their breath when on the first drive in their 27-20 loss to the Colts starting quarterback Baker Mayfield went down, and stayed down with an injury.

On first and goal at the one-yard line, Mayfield attempted a quarterback sneak to try and give the Bucs an early 7-0 lead. When the dust settled Tampa Bay's starting quarterback remained at the bottom of the rubble gripping his ankle. After getting helped off the field by the training staff, Mayfield entered the blue medical tent on the sidelines with backup Kyle Trask replacing him.

The redzone trip would only yield three points for the Buccaneers, but the thought on everyone's mind was, is Mayfield going to be able to return to the game. Those questions were answered on the ensuing drive when he returned with a heavily taped-up ankle. 

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"Didn't feel very good," Mayfield said about his injured ankle. "Just had Bobby and the team tape me up again as much as they possibly could and go from there, but it'll be pretty sore tomorrow,"

Baker was seen walking with a noticeable limp in the locker room after the game according to reports. 

“They do the tests and run around on it. If I feel like I’d be hindering us, there’s a different side of it. I feel like I was good enough to go.”

“Just having an open line of communication with those guys and being honest about how I feel. At first, it didn’t feel very good, and then it kind of eased up as the game went on, but once the adrenaline goes down it’s there.”

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was asked if there was any update on Mayfield and his ankle injury after the game. 

"He finished the rest of the game, but I'll have to wait until he gets checked out to see how bad it is after the game," Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. "Once he puts it up, that's gonna be the telltale sign."

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As Mayfield said post-game, “Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.”

That adrenaline let him finish the game, but what about next week? The Buccaneers host the Panthers, who just fired their head coach,  for a divisional matchup Week 13. Will Mayfield be able to suit up in what is a critically important game just one game out of first place? And if he can what will it take to get him there?

“A lot of treatment, a lot of mental reps early in the week, and just see where it goes from there," Mayfield said. "I’m sure I’ll have an MRI tomorrow and go from there.”

Bowles spoke to reporters Monday in his weekly media session and relieved the results of Mayfield's MRI. 

"He's pretty sore," Bowles said. "The MRI was negative. He has a sore ankle. We'll see how he's feeling during the week, but it came out negative so that's a good thing."

With the negative MRI results, it will be about pain management and tolerance for Mayfield on Sunday against the Panthers. If we've learned one thing about Mayfield this season it's that he's tough as nails. 

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You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

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