Bucs' Baker Mayfield Reportedly Avoided Injury vs. Texans, Expected to Play vs. Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield reportedly didn't suffer any significant injuries during the team's 20-19 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night despite taking several hits.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Mayfield didn't require any MRIs or scans, and while he may need some rest during the week, he is expected to start against the New York Jets on Sunday.

Mayfield was sacked four times by the talented Texans defense and absorbed additional hits while carrying the ball three times for 33 yards, but he orchestrated what proved to be the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to help the Bucs get off to a 2-0 start.

With Tampa trailing 19-14, Mayfield took possession of the ball with 2:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

He quickly and efficiently led an 11-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with running back Rachaad White rushing for a two-yard touchdown with only six seconds left on the clock.

The key play of the drive came on 4th-and-10 when Mayfield got out of trouble and scrambled 15 yards for a first down. Mayfield completed five straight passes after that, leading to the White touchdown run.

All told, Mayfield went 25-of-38 for 215 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the game to go along with 33 rushing yards.

After throwing for over 4,000 yards, earning Pro Bowl selections and leading the Bucs to NFC South titles in each of his first two seasons with the organization, Mayfield is off to another hot start in 2025.

The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Oklahoma has five touchdown passes and no interceptions through two games, and he has Tampa looking like the team to beat in the NFC South once again.

Originally selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield was traded after four seasons with the organization, and it looked like his time as a starter was coming to an end when he struggled in 10 starts between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

However, Mayfield found new life with the Bucs, and through 36 starts with the organization, he is 21-15, and has thrown for 8,926 yards, 74 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

Mayfield makes some mistakes given his gunslinger mentality, and he led the NFL with 16 picks last season, but he also made a ton of plays, setting career highs with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.

He has limited the mistakes through two games this season, and the Bucs seem on track for yet another playoff appearance as a result.

On Sunday, they will face a reeling Jets team that is 0-2 and coming off a 30-10 shellacking at the hands of the Buffalo Bills that was even more one-sided than the score suggests.