The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are waiting on Baker Mayfield, and the first real checkpoint comes Wednesday.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Mayfield is expected to practice, according to Buccaneers reporter Brianna Dix, with the team planning to assess the quarterback during the week and see what he can handle. That update arrives after Mayfield sat out his third straight game Sunday, when Tampa Bay blew a 16-3 lead and fell 26-19 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bowles said after the loss that he expected to have a clearer picture once Mayfield gets on the field Wednesday. The big question is simple enough: how well can he throw and manage the football with the injured thumb on his throwing hand?
For now, his status for Sunday’s divisional matchup with the Carolina Panthers is still up in the air. Mayfield did not practice last week and was ruled out before the Steelers game.
Todd Bowles says Baker Mayfield is supposed to practice on Wednesday and they will evaluate him this week to see what he is able to do.
- Brianna Dix (@briannadixNFL) October 19, 2026
If Mayfield can’t go, the Buccaneers are likely to stay with Jalon Daniels. The undrafted rookie has started the last three games, and against Pittsburgh he finished 22 of 43 for 164 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also took five sacks in the overtime defeat.
Daniels did give Tampa Bay its first win of the season in Week 5, a 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. But Sunday’s loss dropped the Buccaneers to 1-2 in his three starts, and Tampa Bay is now 1-5 overall through six games.
Mayfield has been out since dislocating his right thumb late in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. An MRI showed the dislocation but no fracture or tendon tear.
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