Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has been a model of durability, not missing a game in three seasons with the team. But that ironman streak came at a brutal cost in 2025, as the signal-caller revealed he played through a laundry list of injuries that would have sidelined many players.
In the upcoming season of Netflix's Quarterback, Mayfield opens up about the physical toll of last season. According to WTSP's Evan Closky, Mayfield disclosed that he spent most of the year battling a sprained MCL and PCL, both suffered in a Week 2 win over the Houston Texans. That same game also left him with a bone bruise, which he reaggravated in a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions.
The pain didn't stop there. In Week 3, Mayfield added a bicep injury that created a nasty bruise. He rated his discomfort at a seven out of ten when facing the New England Patriots after the Week 9 bye. “Pain is miserable, but toughness shows how bad you want something,” Mayfield said, summing up his mindset.
The Buccaneers' injury report hinted at the struggles. Fox Sports' Greg Auman noted that Tampa Bay listed Mayfield on the report for 10 weeks, with ailments ranging from a foot/toe (likely the MCL/PCL sprain) to knee and oblique issues. He even played through an illness in a Week 12 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a game where he managed just 41 passing yards and also hurt his left shoulder.
This physical punishment may explain why Mayfield's 2025 numbers took a noticeable step back. After a stellar 2024 campaign where he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, Mayfield finished 2025 with 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and a 90.6 quarterback rating — all lows in his Tampa Bay tenure. His completion percentage plummeted from 71.4 to 63.2, and he had only two 300-yard passing games after hitting that mark six times the previous year.
The team's fortunes followed suit. After starting 5-1 and looking like a lock for a third straight NFC South title, the Bucs stumbled to an 8-9 finish, with Mayfield throwing nine interceptions over the final eight games. The injuries clearly took a toll on his accuracy and decision-making.
Now, with a healthy offseason ahead, the Buccaneers are hoping for a bounce-back. The team's gamble on Mayfield's contract paid off in 2023 and 2024, but 2025 was a painful reminder of how quickly things can change when a quarterback is banged up. If Mayfield can stay healthy, Tampa Bay's offense could return to form. But the documentary's revelations raise questions about how much punishment one player can absorb before it breaks him.
