Buccaneers' Todd Bowles provides huge Baker Mayfield update

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles offered a positive update on quarterback Baker Mayfield coming off Sunday's 23-13 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. 

According to ESPN's Jenna Laine, Bowles told reporters Monday that Mayfield will be "fine by" this coming Sunday's critical Week 18 game at the 2-14 Carolina Panthers. 

Bowles acknowledged that Mayfield's "ribs are sore" after the 28-year-old took what Josh Hill of The Pewter Plank referred to as a dirty hit from New Orleans safety Tyrann Mathieu during a two-point conversion play that occurred when the Buccaneers trailed by 10 points with 1:37 remaining in regulation. Mathieu was flagged for roughing the passer, and Tampa Bay players such as tackle Tristan Wirfs later ripped the Saints for such occurrences. 

"He'll be ready to go on Sunday," Bowles added about Mayfield. The coach did not reveal if his QB1 underwent an MRI. 

Bowles and company hoped to clinch the NFC South division title with a win over the Saints, but the Buccaneers instead entered the fourth quarter of the contest down 20-0. While Tampa Bay and New Orleans are both 8-8 following Sunday's action, the Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Saints and, thus, would claim the division crown with a victory at Carolina. 

In total, Mayfield completed 22-of-33 passes for 309 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of costly interceptions against the Saints. The first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is no stranger to playing through discomfort, as he dealt with a lingering shoulder injury throughout most of the 2021 season. 

"It'll get easier throughout the week," Mayfield said on Sunday about his latest setback. "The first few days are always the worst. I've had a few broken ribs here and there and obviously. ... Nothing showed to that extent as of right now so yeah, I'll be able to deal with it and go from there."

An X-ray showed Mayfield suffered no fractures. 

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Buccaneers as 5.5-point favorites to handle their business as Carolina's Bank of America Stadium. Tampa Bay theoretically could move on from both Bowles and Mayfield this winter if the Panthers close the season out with an upset victory.