Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss a third straight game in Week 6 as he continues to recover from a dislocated thumb, but his return could be close.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Saturday that there is optimism Mayfield can play next week against the Carolina Panthers. The matchup would mark Tampa Bay’s first NFC South game of the season and give the Buccaneers a boost as division play begins.
Mayfield suffered the injury to his throwing hand during Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The injury interrupted his run of consecutive starts and forced the Buccaneers to turn to rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels.
Mayfield has not been able to return to full practice, and the Buccaneers are not rushing him back before he can throw comfortably. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield attempted to throw earlier in the week, but swelling in the thumb remained an issue. His practice participation next week will be an important sign of whether he is ready to play.
Daniels is expected to make his third consecutive start in Week 6 when Tampa Bay faces the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Buccaneers will need the rookie to manage the offense and avoid costly mistakes while Mayfield remains unavailable.
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A return against Carolina would give Tampa Bay its starting quarterback for a divisional matchup with importance. The Buccaneers have yet to face an NFC South opponent this season, so the Week 7 game offers an early chance to make ground within the division.
Still, optimism is not a guarantee that Mayfield will be cleared. The Buccaneers will have to assess how his thumb responds to throwing and practice work before determining his status. Until then, Daniels remains the starter, while Tampa Bay waits for an answer on its quarterback’s recovery.
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