Baker Mayfield should start tonight against Bills for Thursday Night Football

Baker Mayfield is expected to start tonight when the Tampa Bay Bucs take on the Bills for Thursday Night Football.

Plus, Bucs receiver Chris Godwin also is expected to play. This is all according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, who quoted sources he didn’t identify. Pelissero said that defensive tackle Vita Vea, who is questionable, will be a “true game-day decision.”

#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield (knee) and WR Chris Godwin (neck) — both listed as questionable — will play tonight against the #Bills, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.

DT Vita Vea (groin) is also questionable and will be a true game-day decision.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 26, 2023

Mayfield conceded that he actually injured his knee in week four. He aggravated it this past Sunday in the Bucs loss to the Falcons. Pelissero said that in Mayfield’s situation, his play hinges on how well he can tolerate the pain and inflammation that comes with the injury.

Godwin has a neck issue.

Of the three Bucs practices and/or walk throughs this week. Mayfield missed one, then was limited before he went through a full practice, Wednesday. Godwin followed a similar practice schedule. On the Bucs final injury report, the team listed both players as questionable for the Bills.

Earlier this week, Mayfield said his knee felt “pretty sore.” …. “Less than 24 hours after the game, that’s kinda how it always goes. Just re-aggravated what I had against the Saints. Nothing too bad, just pain tolerance and move on.”

Both the Bucs and Bills are desperate for a victory. Each squad has three losses. Most NFL fans didn’t expect much from Tampa Bay in the first season, post Tom Brady. However, the Bills’ 4-3 record is one of the big storylines of the first half of the season. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is even dinged up with a shoulder injury. However, he was a full participant in practices all week.

Tampa Bay Bucs

Player	Position	Injury	Mon	Tue	Wed	Game Status
Chase Edmonds	RB	Knee	FP	FP	FP	(-)
Matt Feiler	G	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Chris Godwin	WR	Neck	DNP	LP	FP	Questionable
Kaevon Merriweather	SAF	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Baker Mayfield	QB	Knee	DNP	LP	FP	Questionable
Vita Vea	DT	Groin	DNP	DNP	DNP	Questionable

Buffalo Bills

Player	Position	Injury	Mon	Tue	Wed	Game Status
Josh Allen	QB	Right Shoulder	FP	FP	FP	(-)
Terrel Bernard	LB	Knee	FP	FP	FP	(-)
Spencer Brown	OT	Knee	FP	FP	FP	(-)
Kaiir Elam	CB	Ankle	FP	FP	FP	(-)
Dawson Knox	TE	Wrist	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Von Miller	OLB	Vet Rest/Knee	LP	LP	FP	(-)
Ed Oliver	DT	Toe	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
Jordan Phillips	DT	Back	LP	LP	FP	(-)
Baylon Spector	LB	Hamstring	DNP	DNP		Out
Quintin Morris	TE	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out