Almost nothing has gone right for the Arizona Cardinals this season. Arizona sits in the NFC West basement with a 3-8 record. Six of those losses have been by four or fewer points, including the heartbreaking 27-24 overtime home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 23rd. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray is likely done for the year following a foot injury and a subsequent benching. To make matters worse, the rest of the teams in the NFC West are having good seasons. It has been a rough year in the desert, as hardly anything has broken in favor of the Cardinals. Well, that trend may change soon. Arizona could get some advantageous news ahead of its Week 13 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Reports Indicate That Baker Mayfield Could Miss Sunday’s Game There is a decent chance the Arizona Cardinals will not face Baker Mayfield when they play the Buccaneers on Sunday. The Tampa Bay starting quarterback missed the second half of its 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after he suffered a shoulder injury. Mayfield’s shoulder injury sparked concern that he could be sidelined for a while. If he is out, that would leave Teddy Bridgewater to start for Tampa Bay after he played the second half against the Rams. Following Mayfield’s MRI on Monday, it seems like there is a real possibility that Bridgewater could suit up for the Buccaneers. That would be an interesting twist for the Arizona Cardinals. Here is what NFL Network insider Ian Rapaport reported about Mayfield’s status on Monday: It is good news for Tampa Bay fans and NFL fans in general that Mayfield only has a low-grade left shoulder sprain. An injury like that probably means he plays multiple games in the stretch run for the Buccaneers. However, that report is far from a guarantee or even a likelihood that Mayfield plays on Sunday vs. the Arizona Cardinals. Enter Teddy Bridgewater. The Arizona Cardinals Could Play Against Teddy Bridgewater in Tampa Flying across the country to play a winning team is never easy in the NFL. It is a bit easier if that team is starting a backup quarterback. Most NFL viewers learned on Sunday that Teddy Bridgewater was still in the NFL, and that he plays for Tampa Bay. The 33-year-old Bridgewater signed the Buccaneers after he was suspended as head football coach of Miami Northwestern High School this summer. He had previously retired after the 2023 season, then rejoined the Detroit Lions at the end of the 2024 regular season. Aside from throwing for 62 yards in the second half against Los Angeles, Bridgewater has not played meaningful NFL snaps since 2022 when he was with the Miami Dolphins. While Bridgewater and Tampa Bay feel confident, one would expect the veteran quarterback to experience some rust after such limited action. Bridgewater isn’t particularly mobile anyway, so the Cardinals pass rush could have some opportunities against him. Mayfield’s shoulder sprain could open the door for an easier-than-expected road game for the Arizona Cardinals. Of course, backup quarterbacks win games all the time. But for a desperate Arizona Cardinals team that has lost three games in a row, they will take all the help they can get.
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