Will Baker Mayfield Play on Sunday for Buccaneers Against Carolina Panthers?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with a rib injury suffered in the loss to the Saints but will it knock him out of this Sunday's matchup against the Panthers with the division on the line?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneer's season is on the line Sunday when they face the Carolina Panthers. It's simple, win the game and they capture their third consecutive NFC South division title and guarantee themselves a home playoff game as the fourth seed. Lose and your season is over. 

The Bucs were afforded the same opportunity last Sunday against the Saints but they squandered it with a slow start in a 20-13 loss. To add to the defeat starting quarterback Baker Mayfield took a cheap shot late in the game that left him with a rib injury. Mayfield was able to reenter the game but was feeling sore afterward. 

“Ribs don’t feel too great right now," Mayfield said. "X-rays, as of right now, are negative so that’s good but we’ll do more exams to see what’s really bugging me. But, don’t have anything right now besides just sore.”

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Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed on Monday that the exams proved there was no further injury and Mayfield should be fine by Sunday. However, on Wednesday Mayfield was not practicing with the team. While he was in attendance at practice he showed up on the injury report as a non-participant.  That meant third-year quarterback Kyle Trask was taking the reps with the first team and could continue into the week according to Bowles.

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

But what if Mayfield can't practice tomorrow? Does that put his spot as the starter heading into the most important game of the season in jeopardy? 

Bowles said that was all up to how Mayfield was feeling as the week progresses. A change of tune from his he'll be fine by Sunday statement earlier in the week.

“I know he’s going to do everything he can to play," Bowles said. "I’m not a doctor, I can’t feel what Baker is feeling, so I can’t tell you how he’s going to feel [or] if he’s able to play. If he can play, I know he’s going to try and play.”

As for Mayfield himself, he says he's feeling pretty sore and tender and has dealt with rib injuries before so he'll rest it and will be good to go. 

“Pretty sore, but I’ll be good," Mayfield said. "It’s just one of those things – it’s tender. I’ve dealt with rib injuries before, but rest and just [time] as the week goes on helps.”

Mayfield hasn't tested out his movement and how he thinks it will affect him come Sunday quite yet as rest and recovery is on his mind. Fortunately, he hasn't had any setbacks and will likely give it a go on Friday, and come Sunday the adrenaline should take care of the rest. 

“Obviously, I didn’t exactly test it out today," Mayfield said. "Just more mental reps for everybody. I’m just going to see. Like I said, I haven’t tested it out, so I’ve just got to get loose. I’m sure by the time we get closer to gametime, adrenaline will be rolling, especially with where we are sitting at right now, situationally.”

Make no doubt about it though Mayfield will be doing everything he can to make sure he's out there with his teammates on Sunday with the division on the line. 

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

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

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