The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be favored on paper against the Arizona Cardinals on their home turf. But a lengthy injury report could be the great equalizer this Sunday, turning a predictable matchup into a battle of attrition.

Also, it is necessary to mention that this game is extremely important for Tampa Bay, as a victory would help secure their lead in the NFC South division and boost their chances for a playoff spot. They are currently in first place in the division, just ahead of the Carolina Panthers (6 wins, 6 losses).

The Buccaneers have faced several injuries this season, and quarterback Baker Mayfield was recently added to the list. Mayfield hurt his non-throwing shoulder (a left AC joint sprain) during the team’s loss to the Rams and was initially forced to miss the second half of that game. 

Although he wore a sling and his availability for Sunday was in doubt, medical tests showed the injury was stable, not structurally serious, and mainly a matter of managing the pain. After missing Wednesday’s practice, he returned to practice on Thursday and Friday, and Head Coach Todd Bowles has stated that Mayfield is “trending to play” against the Cardinals.

Despite the positive news for Mayfield, the Buccaneers have several other key players whose status for the game is questionable due to injury. Bucky Irving (Running Back): Irving has been out since Week 5 with shoulder and ankle/foot injuries. The good news is he participated fully in practice late in the week and is on track to make his return, which would be a significant boost to the offense.

Haason Reddick (Outside Linebacker): Reddick has missed about a month due of ankle and knee issues sustained in Week 7. He returned to practice in a limited role earlier in the week and finished with a full practice on Friday. He is also listed as questionable but is likely to play.

Jamel Dean (Cornerback): Dean is questionable with a hip injury he got in Week 11. He was a full participant in practice late in the week, making it very likely he will be ready for Sunday. A return for Dean would significantly improve the team’s defense against the pass.

Ben Bredeson (Offensive Guard) and Anthony Nelson (Outside Linebacker) are also questionable with a hamstring and rib injury, respectively. Both players fully participated in Friday’s practice, suggesting they are very close to being ready for the game.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s status is in doubt before the week 13 game

The Arizona Cardinals face a difficult challenge in their Week 13 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a high number of player injuries. The final injury report, released on Friday, lists several key players who are either definitely out of the game or whose status is still uncertain.

The main focus is on star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is listed as questionable for Sunday. Harrison is recovering from emergency appendicitis surgery he had on November 11th, and has already missed the last two games. Although he was able to practice in a limited way all week, Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned that while Harrison is moving “well,” he still needs to build back his endurance and conditioning. The team will wait until just a few hours before the game starts on Sunday to decide if he is physically ready to play.

Harrison is one of five key players listed as questionable who had only limited participation in practice this week. These players include: Max Melton (Cornerback) with a heel injury, Zonovan Knight (Running Back) with a knee injury, Kelvin Beachum (Offensive Lineman) with a groin injury, and Hayden Conner (Offensive Lineman), who is also dealing with a knee issue. The availability of these players, especially the two offensive linemen, will be very important for the Cardinals’ ability to protect the quarterback and run the ball effectively

Both teams will have to put in their best performance on Sunday if they want to advance to the 2025 playoffs.