Mayfield suffered the injury during Tampa Bay’s Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. While initial concerns lingered over potential ligament and tendon damage, rehab enabled Mayfield to avoid surgery and log full practice participation throughout the week. To protect the thumb and assist his grip, Mayfield will wear a specially designed, metal-reinforced glove crafted with assistance from the Tampa Bay Rays’ training staff.

Rookie backup Jalon Daniels stepped up under center over the last three weeks, delivering a solid operational performance in Mayfield’s absence. However, with Tampa Bay entering a crucial divisional stretch, head coach Todd Bowles reinstated Mayfield to the primary QB1 role the moment medical staff cleared him for game action.

Who is Bucs starting QB?

Baker Mayfield is the Bucs’ starting quarterback and Jalon Daniels will be the backup against the Carolina Panthers. Tampa cannot lose more ground in a wide open NFC South.

While adapting to playing with a protective glove presents a minor adjustment, Mayfield expressed complete confidence regarding his ability to grip and throw the football effectively.

If Mayfield stays protected in the pocket and avoids further impact on his right hand, his presence gives Tampa Bay its strongest path to securing a decisive divisional victory.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield is playing today and starting at quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Carolina Panthers.
• Mayfield returns after missing three games with a dislocated throwing thumb suffered in Week 3.
• Mayfield will wear a specialized protective glove reinforced with metal padding to secure his thumb during game action.

Head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday, via multiple reporters, that Mayfield is “ready to go” against the Panthers. Mayfield missed the last three games after suffering a dislocated right thumb injury.

Meanwhile, Egbuka returned to practice on Friday after missing the first two days of the week. Yet, he is still dealing with a concussion and Bowles said he will be listed as doubtful to play vs Panthers.

The Bucs are not a cohesive team right now

The Bucs have the 24th-ranked offense in the NFL, averaging less than 300 yards per game. Now, injuries have hampered the team, but even in the first couple of weeks, the team looked bad.

Averaging 19.8 points per game, Tampa Bay is a lackluster offense. The defense is the saving grace. The Bucs rank fourth in opponent’s yards, with just 299.5 allowed. They are also the second-best rushing defense in the NFL.

The Panthers are a vicious opponent for Buccaneers

Not only is this an away, divisional game, but the Buccaneers will face arguably one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Panthers are incredibly good. They are the second-best offense in the league with 404.4 yards per outing.

The Panthers also have the fourth-best scoring offense with 29.2 per game. This is a brutal matchup for the Bucs right now. The Panthers are 3-2 and a win could put them comfortably atop of the NFC South, pending on the result of the Atlanta Falcons.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield will return against the Panthers after missing three games with a thumb injury.
• Emeka Egbuka is listed as doubtful against Carolina while dealing with a concussion.
• The Carolina Panthers offense ranks second in the league with 404.4 yards per game.

Mayfield suffered the injury on September 27, during the fourth quarter of Tampa Bay’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. He dislocated his thumb after hitting his hand against Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman, leaving the Buccaneers without their starting quarterback as they evaluate his recovery and determine when he can safely return.

There is optimism within the organization that Mayfield could be back for Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. However, he will not be available against Pittsburgh, meaning Tampa Bay must rely on its next option at quarterback while hoping to keep its season on track. His recovery will remain a key storyline as the Buccaneers await his return.

Who will start at QB for Bucs vs Steelers?

Jalon Daniels is set to start at quarterback for Tampa Bay against Pittsburgh, giving him another opportunity to lead the offense while Mayfield recovers. Daniels enters the matchup after guiding the Buccaneers to an impressive victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a performance that strengthened his case for another start.

The challenge will be maintaining that momentum against the Steelers, who will look to take advantage of Tampa Bay’s absence at quarterback. Daniels will need to manage the offense, avoid costly mistakes and make the most of his opportunities to keep the Buccaneers competitive throughout the game.

For Tampa Bay, the immediate focus is on getting through Week 6 without its starting quarterback and giving Daniels the support he needs to succeed. The organization remains hopeful that Mayfield can return against Carolina in Week 7, but until he is cleared to play, the Buccaneers will have to move forward with their current quarterback plan.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield is out against the Steelers with a dislocated thumb.
• Jalon Daniels will start after leading the Buccaneers to a win over the Cowboys.
• Tampa Bay is optimistic Mayfield could return in Week 7 against the Panthers.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Bucs officially ruled out Mayfield for Sunday’s game vs Steelers. Mayfield is still dealing with a finger injury in his throwing hand, and an additional week of recovery must be needed.

Hence, against the Steelers, it will be the second straight start for undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. The Bucs will hope for another victory after a Thursday Night Football upset win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Jalon Daniels and Baker Mayfield’s styles are very different

The Steelers have a tough defense, but planning for a game against Mayfield is very different that game-planning against Daniels. After all, Mayfield is mobile, but he tries to stay as a pocket passer.

Meanwhile, Daniels is extremely mobile, much more dynamic, and elusiveness to the pocket. Daniels’ pocket navigation and scrambling ability is much wider than Mayfield, who can escape the pocket, but usually tries to stay within his progressions.

Steelers defense is a tough test for Daniels

The Pittsburgh Steelers is a very good defense, especially around the edges. The defensive line with TJ Watt (4.5 sacks), Alex Highsmith (3.0 sacks), Cam Heyward (1.0 sack, 17 tackles), and Payton Wilson (1.0 sack, 44 tackles) is absolutely loaded with talent and violence.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield was ruled out against the Steelers due to a throwing hand finger injury.
• Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will make his second straight start for Tampa Bay.
• T.J. Watt leads the Steelers defense with 4.5 sacks this season.

Mayfield suffered the injury during the Buccaneers’ Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It happened late in the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-1 play, when he was hit by linebacker Blake Cashman while attempting a pass that was intercepted. Mayfield exited the game, and subsequent medical examinations confirmed the dislocation in his throwing hand.

The initial outlook offered some encouraging news, as an MRI revealed no fracture or damage to the thumb’s ligaments or tendons. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield would miss at least three weeks, and the quarterback has avoided injured reserve so far with the Buccaneers. However, his recovery timeline remains uncertain because his ability to grip and throw the football comfortably will ultimately determine when he can return.

When is Baker Mayfield coming back from injury?

Baker Mayfield could miss at least three more weeks, with a potential absence of up to six weeks depending on how quickly he regains a reliable grip on the football.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the quarterback’s return will depend on his ability to hold and control the ball, a crucial requirement for making accurate throws with consistent velocity. Although the lack of ligament or tendon damage is positive, the dislocation still presents a significant challenge for a quarterback who relies on his throwing hand on every offensive snap.

The Buccaneers have ruled Mayfield out against the Cowboys after he also missed the Week 4 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Tampa Bay initially expected him to miss a minimum of three weeks, but the broader three-to-six-week window means his absence could extend beyond that estimate. If he cannot grip the football adequately, the team may have to wait closer to the longer end of the timeline rather than risk bringing him back before he is ready.

Who is Buccaneers starting quarterback vs Cowboys?

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will be the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback against the Dallas Cowboys, taking over the offense while Baker Mayfield continues his rehabilitation.

Daniels made his first start against Green Bay, throwing for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 55 rushing yards. His second consecutive start will provide another opportunity to gain experience, but replacing a quarterback who had started 57 straight games for Tampa Bay is a considerable challenge.

Mayfield’s recovery will remain one of the Buccaneers’ biggest storylines over the coming weeks. A return after roughly three weeks remains possible if he can grip the ball comfortably and demonstrate that he can throw effectively, while a recovery closer to six weeks would keep him out for a more extended stretch. The team will need to balance the urgency of getting its starting quarterback back with the importance of ensuring his throwing hand is ready for the demands of an NFL game.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield was ruled out against Dallas after dislocating his right thumb in Week 3.
• Baker Mayfield faces a three-to-six-week recovery window depending on his ability to grip the ball.
• Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will make his second career start in Mayfield’s place.

Head coach Todd Bowles will have to rely on Jalon Daniels, the undrafted rookie who entered the NFL out of the Kansas Jayhawks. It will be quite a challenge for the Bucs, who will be looking to earn their first win of the season.

The poor level of play shown by Tampa Bay in its first three games has raised concerns within the coaching staff. Mayfield’s absence could deepen the crisis, especially with the Bucs facing a perennial contender like the Packers.

A tough blow for Mayfield

Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb on his throwing hand during the fourth quarter of Tampa Bay‘s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The injury occurred on a fourth-and-1 play when he was hit while attempting a pass.

Subsequent medical evaluations and an MRI confirmed no major structural ligament damage, but Todd Bowles announced that Mayfield is expected to miss a minimum of three weeks while recovering. Based on that recovery timeline, the earliest realistic target for his return to the field would be Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers.

More injuries for the Bucs

Alongside Mayfield, the Buccaneers are heading into their matchup against Green Bay severely shorthanded on both sides of the ball. On defense, losing Rueben Bain Jr. (groin/shoulder) strips Todd Bowles’ front seven of a key edge disruptor, while Benjamin Morrison (quad) sitting out thins out secondary depth and leaves Tampa Bay vulnerable against Green Bay’s intermediate passing attack.

Offensively, Ko Kieft (elbow) being ruled out might not steal headlines, but his absence stings in the trenches—he’s the team’s primary blocking tight end and H-back, meaning the offense takes a hit in short-yardage packages and heavy run sets just as Jalon Daniels makes his first NFL start.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield will miss the Week 4 game against Green Bay due to a thumb injury.
• Jalon Daniels is set to start at quarterback for the Buccaneers after Mayfield’s injury.
• Minimum of three weeks is the expected recovery timeline for Mayfield’s dislocated right thumb.

Tampa Bay‘s primary backup is Jalon Daniels, who arrived this season as an undrafted free agent. On the practice squad, the quarterback listed is Easton Stick.

This is undoubtedly the worst-case scenario for the Bucs, who are desperate to turn things around as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this tough start leaves them at the bottom of the NFC South and, without their top star, the road ahead looks even more challenging.

What happened to Mayfield?

Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb on his throwing hand late in the fourth quarter of the Buccaneers’ Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The injury happened late in the game when he went down in clear pain, holding his right hand before heading off to the locker room with the medical staff.

While initial X-rays didn’t reveal any fractures, he was scheduled for an MRI to assess potential ligament damage and determine how long he’ll be sidelined. Unfortunately for Todd Bowles, he won’t be able to count on him until at least Week 7.

Daniel’s time

In his final season with the Kansas Jayhawks, Jalon Daniels posted strong numbers, throwing for 2,531 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions on 198-of-319 passing (62.1% completion rate), while adding 4 rushing touchdowns on the ground.

Pressed into action for his NFL regular-season debut, the Bucs rookie QB struggled to find his rhythm. He went 0-for-3 with a game-ending interception on a Hail Mary attempt, while adding 9 yards on one scramble as Tampa Bay fell 23–16 to the Vikings.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield will miss three weeks due to a dislocated right thumb.
• Undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels serves as Tampa Bay’s primary backup quarterback.
• The Buccaneers fell to a 0-3 record after losing 23–16 to the Vikings.

“Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb, per coach Todd Bowles,” as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “MRI tomorrow. But likely to miss time.”

With Mayfield unable to finish the game against Minnesota for Tampa Bay, it was undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels who filled in under center for the Buccaneers. Because the Bucs have a two-man active quarterback room, that’s as far as their depth chart currently goes at the most important position in football.

• Baker Mayfield
• Jalon Daniels

A very avoidable injury

Of course, there’s no way of knowing when an injury will occur in the NFL. Still, Tampa Bay ran too many unnecessary risks on a single play, and it all came back to bite the Bucs in the worst way. Down four points with almost two minutes left in the fourth quarter and all three timeouts, the Bucs had no need to go for it on fourth down on the play that ended with Mayfield injured on the field.

Once the ball was snapped, Mayfield did his best, typical Maverick-style play-extending, keep-the-play-alive efforts, but it was all in vain. As much as he tried to make something out of nothing, it all backfired tremendously.

Mayfield was hit as he threw by Blake Cashman, with the quarterback’s right thumb clashing against the six-foot-one, 235-pound linebacker. As soon as the thumb hit Cashman, Mayfield knew something was wrong. He felt it, and his thumb was no longer pointing in the right direction.

Tampa Bay needs QB help

Now, Mayfield could miss time when his team needs him the most. If he is indeed sidelined, the Buccaneers will be knee-deep in trouble. As things stand, they don’t have another quarterback option other than UDFA rookie Daniels out of Kansas and practice-squad quarterback Easton Stick. If Mayfield is in for a long recovery timeline, expect the Buccaneers to go after a signal-caller available in free agency.

Key takeaways

• Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb and will undergo an MRI on Monday.
• Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels came on in relief as the active backup quarterback.
• Tampa Bay fell to 0-3 to start the 2026 season following Mayfield’s injury.

McMillan is one of Baker Mayfield’s primary targets in the passing game, although the quarterback has other options at his disposal. Both Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. are key alternatives in the Bucs’ passing attack.

Todd Bowles’ team began its season with a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will need to bounce back as quickly as possible to avoid falling to 0-2 this early in the season. With McMillan being able to show that he is healthy, this is a huge boost for Tampa Bay’s offense.

McMillan’s knee is the issue

Jalen McMillan has been sidelined with a knee strain sustained early in training camp that kept him completely out of Tampa Bay’s season opener. While he was a full participant in practice all week and got tagged as questionable heading into Week 2 against Cleveland, the Bucs’ medical staff is taking a super cautious approach with his return.

Mayfield has his targets covered

With McMillan out in the season opener, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. stepped up seamlessly to show why they remain Baker Mayfield’s most trusted high-end weapons in the passing game. Godwin was a reliable safety valve all afternoon, hauling in 8 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, while Egbuka proved why he’s a premier playmaker by racking up 92 receiving yards and a score of his own on 6 catches.

They controlled the tempo against Cincinnati’s secondary from start to finish, proving that as long as they are on the field, Mayfield’s primary reads and top-tier explosive options are in complete, steady hands.

What’s ahead for the Bucs?

Looking past their Week 2 matchup against Cleveland Browns, the Bucs are gearing up for a tough three-game stretch that keeps them tested on both fronts. They stay at home for back-to-back games against NFC North contenders—hosting the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 and the Green Bay Packers in Week 4—before hitting the road in Week 5 for a prime-time style clash against Dallas Cowboys. It’s a heavy-duty run that should really push Tampa Bay’s limits early in the season.

“Taking it one day at a time, making sure that you harp on little details,” Mayfield said during his press conference. “That goes back to, obviously, not coming out on the right side of the game last week, of really focusing on the small details. And so, when you do that, good things will happen on Sundays.

“So, for me, focusing on that and then when the lights come on, you get out there and play, it’s time to go — let it loose.” Fumbles were his main Achilles’ heel, as he was overwhelmed by the pressure from the Bengals’ defensive line.

Struggling in that way may actually be the best thing at this stage of the season, with plenty of time still left to turn things around. For now, the quarterback is aware of this and knows he will have to improve quickly in order to secure the Buccaneers’ first win.

Baker must avoid the fumbles

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs opened their 2026 season on a rough note, dropping a tight 33-27 battle to the Bengals. Baker was efficiency-wise pretty sharp, completing 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards and scrambling for a rushing touchdown, but the ball security issues completely derailed the offense.

Putting the ball on the turf 3 times with those costly fumbles wiped out any real flow Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trying to build, leaving them playing catch-up all afternoon despite his solid passing efficiency.

Mayfield and the Browns meet again

Todd Bowles’ team will face its next challenge at home against an opponent that gives Bucs an opportunity to earn their first win of the season: the Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield used to play in the Dawg Pound and has nothing but fond memories of his time with the franchise.

“Yeah, I mean, with any experience, there’s ups and downs, good and bad. Ultimately, you remember the good more so than the bad,” he said. “Yeah, first time having a playoff win since ’94 there. And going on the road and doing it in Pittsburgh. So, a lot of good memories there. A lot of teammates that are friends for life. But like I said earlier, it’s a very different building now.”

Adding a humorous note to the situation, NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared a funny quote from Mayfield regarding the negotiations via X, formerly Twitter. “Apparently, they engaged in talks last week that I did not know about,” Mayfield stated during his press conference.

Now that Mayfield has secured his continuity with the Buccaneers through the 2029 season, the focus officially shifts back to returning to the playoffs. The Buccaneers missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2019 due to a late-season slump that allowed the Carolina Panthers to claim the division title. With Mayfield under a new contract and fully recovered, Tampa Bay is expected to return to the top of the NFC South.

What Mayfield has delivered

Since replacing Tom Brady in 2023 on a one-year prove-it deal, Mayfield has thrown for 12,237 yards and 95 touchdowns, won two division titles, and earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

Mayfield, who was selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by Cleveland, earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two seasons in Tampa while guiding the Buccaneers to consecutive NFC South titles.

He experienced an up-and-down 2025 campaign marked by multiple injuries, but returns in 2026 motivated him to help Tampa Bay qualify for the playoffs. He was an MVP candidate during the first half of last season when the team started 6-2, but he struggled with injuries and saw his performance dip.

Expecting a strong start

The 2026 NFL season will begin with a trip to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. The Buccaneers have another AFC North road trip to Maryland to take on the Baltimore Ravens. They will face Cincinnati’s division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, at Raymond James Stadium, hoping to start in the best possible way.