Baker Mayfield’s injury another problem for depleted Bucs with 49ers test looming

Following Monday’s loss to Kansas City, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now 4-5 for the season so far after the heartbreak of the overtime loss at Arrowhead Stadium (30-24) and Todd Bowles will be aware that another defeat could see Tampa Bay drop further behind the Atlanta Falcons (6-3) in the NFC South after Monday’s loss saw the Bucs record their third defeat in succession with a ‘free week’ looming after Sunday’s home game.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield leads the NFL with 23 passing touchdowns and is second in passing yards with 2,389 despite numerous injuries to his wide receivers with Mike Evans (hamstring) has missed the past two games and Chris Godwin is on injured reserve with a season-ending ankle dislocation.

Mayfield doubt

Mayfield now looks set to be a doubt for Sunday’s game with a toe issue and has missed the past two days of training despite the Texas native claiming that he’ll be ready for the visit of the 49ers who are 4-4 for the season.

Meanwhile, the emergence of Cade Otton has been pivotal to the Tampa Bay offense and could help counter San Francisco’s aggressive approach. The third-year tight end led the Buccaneers with eight receptions and 77 yards against the Chiefs, and he caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season.

On Sunday, Otton could become the second tight end in NFL history to produce eight or more catches in four consecutive games with Kansas City’s Travis Kelce holding the record, producing the feat in a seven-game streak back in 2020.