Baker Mayfield’s thumb injury has pushed Tampa Bay into an uncomfortable stretch, and the Buccaneers now expect to be without their starting quarterback for at least three weeks, with the absence possibly stretching to six.
Mayfield dislocated the thumb on his right, throwing hand at the end of Tampa Bay’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week. The wound was severe enough to need stitches, though those stitches are expected to come out soon. An MRI the day after the game offered some relief, showing no further damage to the thumb ligament or tendon.
Even with that better news, the injury still sidelines him because it affects his throwing hand. Todd Bowles said Mayfield will be out for at least three weeks and could miss as many as six, depending on how quickly he can regain the grip strength needed to throw, per ESPN.
The Buccaneers have not put Mayfield on injured reserve, a sign they’re still holding out hope for a quicker return. For now, though, the team is moving ahead with a rookie under center.
Jalon Daniels, the former Kansas quarterback, is set to make his first NFL start and becomes the first rookie quarterback to start a game this season after winning the backup job over Jake Browning in the preseason. Daniels signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent on a deal that guaranteed his full $247,500 practice squad salary and included a $25,000 signing bonus.
Easton Stick will serve as the backup Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, with the 0-3 Buccaneers still chasing their first win of the season.
“For us, it's just trying to get a win,” Todd Bowles said ahead of Week 4. “Everybody has to do their job.”
He also said, “We've just got to make sure Jalon is comfortable with the things we give him.”
Bowles said his belief in Daniels comes from what he’s already shown. “The same confidence that he made the team with.
“Just going out there, performing, doing his job and being him, going through his reads and making throws and playing football. His performance speaks for itself when he's out there. His confidence speaks for itself, and they rally around him.”
Daniels called the moment the kind of opportunity he’s been chasing. “I don't even know if I can put it into words.
“It’s a dream come true. It's a dream come true to even play for an NFL organization. To be able to go out there and have my first NFL start, it means everything.”
Tampa Bay’s next two games after Green Bay are on the road against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 and at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, both expected to come without Mayfield. The Buccaneers will then hope he can be back for NFC South matchups with the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]