Baker Mayfield’s Return Depends on When He Can Grip the Football

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss at least three weeks after dislocating his right thumb, coach Todd Bowles said. That three week timeline, however, represents the minimum length of his expected absence.

Sources told ESPN that Mayfield could be sidelined anywhere from three to six weeks. His return will depend on how quickly he regains the ability to grip the football, a timeline that remains difficult to predict.

The Buccaneers are hoping Mayfield can return after three weeks. Privately, however, the organization has worried that the injury could keep him out for five to six games, according to sources.

Mayfield underwent an MRI on Monday. The examination showed no additional damage to either the ligament or tendon in his thumb beyond the dislocation, according to sources.

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Bowles said at the time that the injury should not require surgery. Mayfield, a two-time Pro Bowler, received stitches to close the wound caused by the dislocation, and those stitches are expected to be removed soon.

Tampa Bay did not place Mayfield on injured reserve Saturday. The Buccaneers also do not believe he will need to be added to injured reserve even if the thumb injury sidelines him for longer than four weeks, according to sources.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will replace Mayfield as Tampa Bay’s starter. Daniels will become the first rookie quarterback this season to start a game when he faces the Green Bay Packers.

None of the 10 rookie quarterbacks drafted this year had started a game entering Week 4. That group consists of Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, Cole Payton, Taylen Green, Athan Kaliakmanis, Behren Morton and Garrett Nussmeier.

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After Daniels went undrafted, Tampa Bay signed him to a deal that included a $25,000 signing bonus. The Buccaneers also guaranteed his practice squad salary of $247,500, which the source described as a rare full practice squad salary guarantee.

Daniels spent six seasons at Kansas before winning the Buccaneers’ training camp competition for the backup quarterback job. He beat out Jake Browning, who joined Tampa Bay earlier this year on a deal that included $400,000 guaranteed.

Easton Stick will serve as Daniels’ backup Sunday against Green Bay. The Buccaneers also signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien to their practice squad this week, while Daniels gets the first of what figures to be at least three starts.

The Buccaneers enter their home game against the Packers with a 0-3 record. They will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night in Week 5 before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.

Tampa Bay then visits the division rival Carolina Panthers in Week 7. The Buccaneers return home in Week 8 for another NFC South game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Bowles said the Buccaneers expect Daniels to “do his job and do it at a high level that he expects from himself.” He added that the rookie is “not gonna be out there by himself, there will be 22 other guys out there helping him.”

Daniels will become the first Buccaneers rookie quarterback to start a game since former No. 1 draft pick Jameis Winston in 2015. Daniels went 0-for-3 passing while playing four snaps last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

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