The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 3 loss to the Vikings brought the kind of bad news that can flatten a season fast. The Bucs dropped to 0-3 after a 23-16 defeat, and Baker Mayfield is expected to miss several weeks with a dislocated right thumb. For a team already searching for answers, it was another ugly turn in a season that has gone sideways.
The offense was the biggest problem again. Despite the hopes around offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Tampa Bay looked out of sync from the start.
Mayfield struggled before leaving the game, the running game never got going, and Riley Dixon was forced to punt nine times on Sunday. A 2-17 day on third down is the kind of number that tells the whole story.
So does Chase McLaughlin needing three field goals because the Bucs couldn’t finish drives.
The wide receivers didn’t provide a steady answer, either. Ted Hurst III flashed once with a wide-open 40-yard touchdown, then vanished from the game. And up front, the offensive line continued to be a problem that drags the entire unit down.
If there was a silver lining, it came on defense. Tampa Bay was at its best in Week 3 while trying to slow Kyler Murray, even though he was without Justin Jefferson for much of the game.
Murray felt more pressure than Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson had in previous games, but the pass rush still has room to improve. One adjustment mentioned was getting David Walker on the field more on the outside, since he is the only outside pass rusher who can get to the quarterback.
Through three games, Walker, Josiah Trotter, and A’Shawn Robinson have been Tampa Bay’s three best defenders. That’s a positive sign, but it also raises uncomfortable questions about Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Yaya Diaby, and Calijah Kancey, who were all mentioned as not being worth their price tags or worth extending.
With Week 4 next on the schedule, Jalon Daniels is set for his turn in Tampa Bay. He’ll have a tough assignment against the Packers, with plenty of cheeseheads expected at Raymond James Stadium.
The frustration around the team is already obvious, and the outlook has turned bleak enough that the Glazers are being pushed toward difficult decisions. Whatever this version of the Bucs is, it has to change.
In Other News...
Vikings Win May Have Changed The Buccaneers Season Fast
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has put the Buccaneers in an early-season spot they hoped to avoid after a Week 3 matchup with the Vikings that now carries more weight than the final score. Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss at least three weeks, leaving Tampa Bay to move ahead without its starting quarterback while the offense adjusts on the fly.
Rookie backup Jalon Daniels finished the game after Mayfield went down and now steps into the spotlight as the fill-in. Todd Bowles and Bruce Arians have both weighed in publicly on the injury and on Mayfields playing style, adding another layer to a situation that could quickly shape how the Buccaneers navigate the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Offense Just Took Another Hit They Couldnt Afford
The Buccaneers offense has already been stretched thin by Baker Mayfields thumb injury, and now it has taken another hit with wide receiver Jalen McMillan expected to miss 6-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a sprained PCL. Tampa Bay has been trying to keep its attack afloat without its starting quarterback, and losing another key pass catcher only adds to the pressure on a unit that has had to absorb one setback after another.
McMillans injury is a frustrating one for both the team and the player, especially with his early career already marked by missed time. For a Buccaneers offense trying to stay steady while Mayfield is out for at least three weeks, the timing could hardly be worse, and it leaves even more uncertainty around how the group will hold up in the coming stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Make Necessary Roster Move To Avoid A Safety Depth Squeeze
The Buccaneers made a practical early-season move at safety by signing Ifeatu Melifonwu to a one-year contract after using him on the practice squad and elevating him for the first three games. With the NFL limiting how many times a player can be elevated from the practice squad, Tampa Bay had to get Melifonwu onto the active roster if it wanted to keep him in the mix.
A roster spot cleared up with wide receiver Jalen McMillan likely headed to injured reserve, giving the Bucs the flexibility to make the switch without creating another squeeze elsewhere. For a team trying to manage its depth carefully in the opening stretch, keeping Melifonwu around became the priority, and the timing of McMillans status made the move possible. [Read more 🡒]