TAMPA, Fla. -- Three key Tampa Bay Buccaneers players -- quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and left tackle Tristan Wirfs -- will play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
All three were active Sunday after being listed as questionable to play. Mayfield was limited in practice all week by a right biceps injury and was seen wearing a sleeve on his arm. He did minimal throwing but did some handoffs earlier in the week.
The Buccaneers felt comfortable resting him, though, with coach Todd Bowles saying Friday that Mayfield threw the ball more and "should be OK for Sunday."
Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard called Mayfield "as tough as they come" and expressed full confidence in his ability to play.
"He does such a good job of preparing already -- a lot like what Teddy [Bridgewater] was doing," Grizzard said. "Everybody's on the same page, even Baze [rookie Connor Bazelak], talking through the practice squad side of it on contingency plans for even him, like in Week 1. So it's all about mental reps, and he's taking all of those and is in a good spot and watching all the film and getting all the protections and cans and all the things in order."
Should the Buccaneers need to rely more heavily on the ground game with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, the Eagles' defense is giving up 5.1 rushing yards per attempt through three games -- fifth most in the NFL.
For Godwin (ankle) and Wirfs (knee), meanwhile, it will be a 2025 debut for both players after they sat out the first three games of the season and missed all of training camp. But by avoiding the physically unable to perform list, they have practiced in varying capacities through the first three weeks and were able to play without missing the required four weeks.
Wirfs is coming off arthroscopic right knee surgery in July, and Godwin underwent two surgeries to repair a dislocated left ankle suffered in Week 7 last season. They were both full participants in practice Friday, with Saturday serving as an important measuring stick to see how their bodies responded to a week of practicing that featured different ramp-up strategies.
On Thursday, Wirfs said he was "pain free" for the first time in a long time.
"I feel good," Wirfs said, adding that he has put in a lot of work to get ready for this matchup. "[I have] done a lot of conditioning -- it sucks -- but it feels good to be in a good spot physically."
Bowles said Godwin could be on a pitch count if weather is a concern. Temperatures are expected to hover around 89 degrees at kickoff. Last week's official game-time temperature was 88 degrees, but the heat index was over 100 degrees. Sunday's heat index is expected to be 103 degrees.
Wirfs is the first player in NFL history to be named a first-team All-Pro at the right and left tackle positions. He was just voted the ninth-best player in franchise history as part of the team's 50th anniversary celebration, despite entering just his sixth season. He is a welcome return for an offensive line that lost starting right tackle Luke Goedeke and starting right guard Cody Mauch to injured reserve in Week 2. Goedeke is expected to return this season, sources told ESPN.
Godwin's return will help to replace leading wide receiver Mike Evans, who is expected to miss three to four weeks with a strained left hamstring, sources said.
The Buccaneers have also been without wideout Jalen McMillan, who led the NFL with seven touchdowns in the final five games of the 2024 regular season. He suffered a significant neck sprain in the second preseason game and was placed on injured reserve. Sources told ESPN that he is not expected to return until after the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye.
On top of that, star rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Buccaneers' first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, had been playing through a hip/groin injury but carries no injury designation this week.