Sports
Buccaneers lose Mayfield to injury
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 0-3 start took a more troubling turn Sunday when quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb late in the fourth quarter of the team’s 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, the Bucs face a difficult and immediate question: Can Mayfield play next Sunday when the Green Bay Packers come to Raymond James Stadium, or will Tampa Bay turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for his first NFL start?
Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed after the loss that Mayfield dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand. Bowles said X-rays did not reveal a fracture, but Mayfield will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury and establish a clearer timetable.
For a Buccaneers team already under pressure after three consecutive losses, the timing could hardly be worse.
Mayfield injured on pivotal late play
Mayfield suffered the injury with less than two minutes remaining against Minnesota. On a fourth-and-13 play, he scrambled backward to escape Vikings pressure before releasing a pass that linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel intercepted.
Mayfield’s right thumb bent awkwardly as he threw. He remained on the turf as Tampa Bay’s training staff attended to him, then walked off while favoring his throwing hand. He did not return.
Before the injury, Mayfield completed 17 of 34 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He absorbed six sacks as Minnesota’s pressure repeatedly disrupted the Bucs’ passing game.
The interception allowed Minnesota to maintain control late, and Tampa Bay’s final chance fell to Daniels, the rookie quarterback who made the 53-man roster after beating out veteran Jake Browning for the No. 2 role during training camp.
Daniels gets first NFL action
Daniels entered with the Bucs needing a dramatic finish and faced a near-impossible assignment. Tampa Bay had limited time, no margin for error and a Vikings defense ready to protect a late lead.
The former Kansas quarterback went 0-for-3 and threw an interception on the final Hail Mary attempt. That short appearance hardly offers a fair evaluation of his readiness, but it did give Daniels his first regular-season NFL snaps.
If Mayfield cannot play against Green Bay, the 23-year-old Daniels would likely make his first career NFL start in front of a home crowd. That possibility would create one of the most compelling storylines of Week 4.
Daniels brings mobility, poise and extensive college experience to the role. Still, starting an NFL game is a major leap, especially against a Packers team that will arrive in Tampa knowing it can pressure a young quarterback and force the Bucs to prove they can generate consistent offense.
Bucs need clarity quickly
Tampa Bay cannot make a final determination until Mayfield completes his MRI and the club evaluates pain tolerance, stability and his ability to grip and throw the football. A dislocation without a fracture offers some hope, but the injury involves Mayfield’s throwing hand, which makes even a short recovery window complicated.
Bowles acknowledged that Daniels is the likely next option if Mayfield cannot go, but the Bucs have not officially ruled out their starting quarterback for the Green Bay game.
The Packers matchup already carried major importance for Tampa Bay. At 0-3, the Bucs need a win to stop the early-season slide and regain traction in the NFC South. The possibility of playing without Mayfield transforms that urgency into a test of roster depth, offensive flexibility and rookie composure.
For Daniels, the opportunity could arrive much faster than anyone expected. For the Buccaneers, Monday’s MRI may shape the entire week — and perhaps the direction of their season.
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