Mayfield left Sunday’s loss after injuring his shoulder in the first half. After a trip to the medical tent, the QB returned to the game and tried to lift on the last play of the second quarter. Mayfield was on the ground after the game in obvious pain. He did not return to action in the second half and spent the season sidelined with a sling.
Veteran Teddy Bridgewater took over in the final two scoreless quarters for the Bucs, going 8 of 15 passing for 62 yards, with two sacks and no turnovers.
Mayfield’s position is a big one for the 6-5 Bucs, who have lost three straight and watched their once-dominant league lead shrink. The 6-5 Carolina Panthers are on the rise in the NFC South for a date with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
We’ll get a better sense of Mayfield’s timeline as the week progresses.