Buccaneers turn to Jalon Daniels as Baker Mayfield out at least three weeks

An MRI confirmed Baker Mayfield's dislocation with no fracture or tendon tear, clearing undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to start for the 0-3 Buccaneers in Week 4.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will move forward with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback after tests confirmed starter Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated joint that will sideline him for a minimum of three weeks. The injury compounds a rough opening stretch for Tampa Bay, which fell to 0-3 with Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

An MRI examination on Monday showed no fracture or tendon tear in the joint, backing up the team's initial read on the setback, according to the Buccaneers' website. Head coach Todd Bowles added that neither surgery nor a stay on injured reserve is expected for Mayfield. "It's consistent with everything we thought it was, a dislocation," Bowles said. "Right now we're probably talking a minimum of three weeks."

Daniels entered Sunday's game in the closing stages and went 0 for 3 in his first NFL action. The 6-foot, 219-pounder made the roster as an undrafted free agent. "When I went into the game, I was just trying to do everything I could to be able to get some points on the board," Daniels said in a post on X by PewterReport. "When my number was called, I was trying to go out there and operate."

For now, the job belongs to Daniels, though Bowles left the door open to adding another passer. "We'll go with Jalon, and we'll go play, and we'll see what's out there that we can bring in to help out on the practice squad or help out on the team," Bowles said, according to Sports Illustrated.

Bowles also pushed back on questions about whether the rookie is ready, citing the preseason showing that earned Daniels a place on the team. "It's going to be like every other rookie. But he played well in the preseason. He's very bright. He's not going to be out there by himself. We just expect him to do his job and play at a high level, as he expects of himself," Bowles said, adding that teammates rally around the young quarterback.

Daniels reached the pros despite a college career that NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein characterized as a disappointment. "Sixth-year senior who was unable to live up to the promise shown earlier in his career," Zierlein wrote in his draft assessment, which cited inconsistent mechanics, timing and coverage recognition while allowing that Daniels' running ability helps his case.

Daniels' first start comes in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, and unlike Sunday he will have the benefit of a full game plan. Bowles expects opponents to test the newcomer. "I'm sure they'll blitz him a lot, show him a bunch of different looks," Bowles said. "And I'm sure he's going to get a lot of pressure."

For fantasy football managers, the quarterback change carries immediate implications. The guidance is to bench wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan until Mayfield returns, while tight end Cade Otton loses the touchdown-dependent appeal he carried. Running back Bucky Irving is the one skill player whose value could rise, with a run-heavy approach and checkdown passes to him and Kenny Gainwell likely. The bar is low: Tampa Bay managed only 62 points across its first three games even with Mayfield running the offense.