Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield active for win-and-in matchup against Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scrambles under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (99) in the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
Baker Mayfield is active for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ win-and-in season finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield has been dealing with sore ribs sustained in last week’s 23-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report, but was expected to play with the season on the line.
The Buccaneers (8-8) can clinch the NFC South with a win over the NFL-worst Panthers (2-14) and lock up the fourth seed in the NFC playoffs. If Tampa Bay loses it is eliminated from playoff contention and the winner of the Atlanta-New Orleans game will win the division.
The Panthers will be without kicker Eddy Pineiro, who will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Pineiro is the third-most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history behind only Baltimore’s Justin Tucker and Kansas City’s Harrison Butker.
Matthew Wright has been signed from the practice squad to replace Pineiro.
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