The Buccaneers are heading into Sunday with a shortened hand, and the biggest blow is the one at quarterback. Baker Mayfield has been ruled out for the matchup with the Green Bay Packers, leaving Tampa Bay to turn to undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels in a game the team badly needs to win to avoid an 0-4 start.
Mayfield is only part of the injury picture. Tampa Bay’s Friday report also includes cornerback Benjamin Morrison, outside linebacker Rueben Bain, and tight end Ko Kieft, all listed out for the Packers game.
Morrison’s absence comes after a quad issue that appeared to pop up during Thursday’s practice. He logged just one defensive snap in the Week 3 loss to the Vikings, but he still offered depth in the secondary. Bain, meanwhile, remains sidelined by the groin injury he picked up in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns.
That leaves more pressure on the edge, where Anthony Nelson and David Walker are in line for expanded snaps with Bain unavailable. Starter Yaya Diaby has been dealing with a calf injury, though Todd Bowles said Friday that Diaby should be fine.
Kieft will miss the game with an elbow injury, and Mayfield will also show up on the report as out with the thumb dislocation that has kept him sidelined. Since he is not on injured reserve, he is still part of the active roster picture even though he won’t be available Sunday.
There is some better news elsewhere on the roster. Jacob Parrish and SirVocea Dennis both returned to practice after taking personal leaves, and Josiah Trotter should be ready to go. Parrish missed two days because of a personal matter, and while he is expected to play, Tampa Bay could still choose to elevate a defensive back from the practice squad or activate Ayden Garnes for the first time this season.
The Packers visit Raymond James Stadium at 1 p.m. Sunday.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Have 3 Matchups That Could Decide Their First Win
The Buccaneers head into their matchup with the Packers in a spot that already feels important in the early-season picture, with both teams chasing their first win. For Tampa Bay, the path to getting there starts up front, where the pass rush has a chance to test a Green Bay offensive line that has already shown signs of strain. If the Buccaneers can create pressure without giving Jordan Love clean answers, they can tilt the game in their favor before it settles into a rhythm.
The other key battles come in coverage, where Tampa Bays cornerbacks will have to keep Christian Watson from making the kind of downfield impact that can flip a game quickly. The middle of the field matters just as much, with the linebackers and safeties responsible for limiting Tucker Kraft and preventing Green Bay from finding easy yards on defining downs. For a Buccaneers defense trying to steady the season, those two assignments may end up being just as telling as whatever happens in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Passing Game Just Put Emeka Egbuka At A Crossroads
Emeka Egbukas first taste of NFL football gave the Buccaneers plenty to like, with the rookie receiver showing real promise in his opening season. The early part of 2026, though, has been a different story. His production has cooled, and a shaky passing game has made it harder for him to stay as consistently involved as Tampa Bay would like.
Now Baker Mayfield is sidelined by a thumb injury, and the spotlight shifts to rookie undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels as the expected next man up. Daniels flashed enough in the preseason to give the Buccaneers some hope that the offense can find a better rhythm, and with it, a path back to fuller usage for Egbuka. Whether that change restores his role or leaves the passing game searching for answers is the next question hanging over Tampa Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Still Have A Few Edges That Could Change Sunday
The Buccaneers have spent the opening month looking for traction, but a few matchup edges could still give them a chance to reset the season on Sunday. At 0-3, Tampa Bay is turning to rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels against Green Bay, and the numbers suggest the path forward is less about big-picture momentum than winning a handful of key situations that can swing a game.
Green Bay has had trouble on the ground and in the red zone, while Tampa Bay has shown a steadier rushing attack, tighter red zone defense and more dependable kicking. In a game that figures to be shaped by field position and finishing drives, those details could matter more than the records say they should. [Read more 🡒]