Baker Mayfield dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand during Tampa Bay’s 23-16 home loss to Minnesota, and the Buccaneers now find themselves 0-3 with a rookie quarterback potentially waiting to take the reins against Green Bay. The injury struck late in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, capping a miserable afternoon for a team many expected to contend in the NFC South.
Mayfield went down on what became his final pass of the game, attempting a desperation throw while evading pressure on fourth-and-13 from the Buccaneers’ 39-yard line with 1:54 remaining. Blake Cashman hit Mayfield’s hand as he threw, and the pass was intercepted, according to the New York Post. Mayfield remained on the ground in visible pain, and former NFL linebacker Jonathan Vilma described him as being in serious pain during the broadcast, per the same account.
Reports differ on exactly where the injury diagnosis stood as of Sunday night. Sports Illustrated reported that Mayfield dislocated his right thumb and would have an MRI on Monday, while Yahoo Sports reported that an MRI had already revealed the dislocation. The Post's account, citing head coach Todd Bowles, said x-rays showed no break in the thumb but that Mayfield was scheduled for an MRI on Monday, with Bowles noting the additional testing could reveal ligament damage or other injuries.
A Brutal Finish to an Already Lost Game
Mayfield left the locker room with ice on his right hand, according to ESPN, and did not speak to reporters afterward. Tristan Wirfs told ESPN that Mayfield was simply trying to make a play at the end of the game. Jalon Daniels replaced Mayfield for the Buccaneers’ final drive and threw an interception on a Hail Mary attempt to end the contest.
The 31-year-old Mayfield finished 17 of 34 for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Minnesota, giving him 615 passing yards and two touchdown passes through three games this season, according to acmepackingcompany.com. He had completed 63.5 percent of his passes with two interceptions on the year, per Sports Illustrated. The injury comes just weeks after Mayfield and the Buccaneers finalized a three-year, $165 million extension five days before the season opener.
A Winless Start Compounds the Concern
Tampa Bay's season has unraveled quickly. The Buccaneers lost 33-27 to the Bengals in Week 1, a game in which Mayfield threw no touchdown passes and lost three fumbles. They followed that with a 23-19 home loss to the Browns in Week 2 before Sunday's defeat to the Vikings dropped them to 0-3. Bowles acknowledged after the game that the Buccaneers are 0-3 and one game out of first place in the NFC South, per the Post's report.
Sunday's loss carried consequences beyond the standings. Tampa Bay's Super Bowl odds dropped from +5500 to +10000 following Mayfield's injury, and the Buccaneers moved to a 3.5-point home underdog against Green Bay for Week 4, according to Sports Illustrated. The Packers themselves are just 1-2 after a 35-14 home loss to Atlanta, as noted by Buccaneers.com.
Could an Undrafted Rookie Start Under Center?
If Mayfield can't go, Tampa Bay's options are thin. Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent who made the 53-man roster as the backup quarterback behind Mayfield, went 0-for-3 with an interception and rushed once for nine yards in his first NFL regular-season action against Minnesota, according to Yahoo Sports. The outlet reported that the former Kansas quarterback will likely be the starter against Green Bay, while Buccaneers.com described it as a possibility that the undrafted rookie may be making his first career start in Week 4. Acmepackingcompany.com similarly noted that if Mayfield can't play, the undrafted rookie is likely to get the start, though the team has not ruled out Mayfield suiting up against the Packers.
At Kansas, Daniels ranked second in program history in career passing yards with 9,282, passing touchdowns with 67, pass attempts with 1,194 and pass completions with 734, per Yahoo Sports. He is also tied for the most career rushing touchdowns by a Kansas quarterback with 23. Behind Daniels on the depth chart sits practice-squad quarterback Easton Stick, who has been with the team since August 31.
Green Bay holds a 33-23-1 edge in the all-time series against Tampa Bay, though the Buccaneers have won three of the last four meetings between the two franchises, according to Buccaneers.com. Whether that recent trend continues in Week 4 may now hinge on which quarterback trots onto the field at Raymond James Stadium — Mayfield, if his thumb allows it, or a rookie making his first career start under center.
