TEMPE — The biggest question mark heading into the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 13 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers revolved around the status of quarterback Baker Mayfield.
And although it may have been answered on Friday — Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Mayfield is trending toward starting — Cardinals defenders weren’t taking the bait on the signal caller missing time based on his makeup.
“He’s as tough as they come.”
Cardinals DL Calais Campbell would be very surprised if Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield didn’t play this week. pic.twitter.com/9nGhHeC3tT
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 27, 2025
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“In my experience with Baker, he’s as tough as they come. If you have to ask like one thing to describe Baker, his toughness is probably the first thing I think of. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t play.
“Just given the circumstances and where they are trying to fight for their division and trying to earn a playoff spot mentality. I expect Baker to play. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t. … I know he’s tough as it goes. If he can’t play, it’s because he can’t play.”
Through 11 games this year, Mayfield has the Buccaneers fighting for the top spot in the NFC South at 6-5. It’s a stark contrast to the Cardinals’ current standing at the bottom of the NFC West at 3-8.
The veteran signal caller has been a key piece in Tampa Bay’s success since coming to town in 2023 hungry for an opportunity following a four-start stint with the Los Angeles Rams the year prior.
Since then, he’s led the Buccaneers to two postseason berths behind a 25-20 mark, completing 66.6% of his throws for 10,950 yards and 87 touchdowns to 31 interceptions. He’s started every game for Tampa Bay since 2023. There’s a reason why the line moved upon the Mayfield news, with Arizona moving from 2.5- to 4.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
You know the most recent trend of quarterback reclamation projects? It really kicked off with Mayfield, who went from lining up as a scout team defensive end in Carolina to a franchise role in Tampa Bay in the span of a couple seasons.
And sitting out just isn’t something he does.
“He’s a very strong guy, competitive guy. If he can throw, I feel like he’s going to be out there playing,” safety Budda Baker said Thursday.
“For us, it’s just a matter of understanding the concepts, understanding what they like to do and then kind of just going from there. If Teddy Bridgewater plays, we’ll go from there but we’re thinking that Baker’s playing.”
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