Mayfield Out at Least Three Weeks; Buccaneers Turn to Rookie Daniels

Baker Mayfield's dislocated right thumb leaves the winless Buccaneers turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for next week's home game against Green Bay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in Sunday's loss to Minnesota and is expected to miss at least three weeks. With Mayfield unavailable, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will start next week when the Buccaneers host the Green Bay Packers.

Daniels spent six seasons at Kansas before entering the league undrafted. He claimed the No. 2 job in training camp by winning a competition against veteran Jake Browning.

The injury deepens a dismal stretch for Tampa Bay, which is 0-3 for the first time since 2014 and has dropped 10 of its past 12 games since a 6-2 start last season. The NFC North's weakness offers a cushion: the Saints, Falcons and Panthers are all 1-2, leaving the Buccaneers just one game out of first place. Coach Todd Bowles pointed to that narrow gap and said everyone in the building, from coaches to players, has to do more and find ways to improve.

Bowles has been on the hot seat since a 2-7 collapse closed the 2025 season. He is under contract through 2028, though the length of the deal offers little security if the losing continues.

Mayfield, who signed the largest contract in franchise history, a three-year, $165 million extension, has not played to that standard this season. Before the injury he missed open receivers, struggled to connect with wideout Emeka Egbuka and looked unsettled in the pocket behind a line that has failed to protect him. The lone positive for Tampa Bay is that the thumb injury could have been more serious.

The offensive line was expected to be a strength with all five starters healthy and playing together, but it has become a liability. Holding penalties have wiped out big plays, including an 85-yard touchdown pass, and the unit has surrendered six sacks. The run game has been inconsistent as well. Two-time All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs said he has never experienced an 0-3 start and that no outside help is on the way, so the players in the locker room must pull themselves out.

The problems reach across all three phases. Special teams gave up an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown against Minnesota, and the offense converted just 2 of 17 third-down chances. Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been a rare bright spot at 9 for 9 on field goals, including a 59-yarder, though the team has settled for too many of them. Outside linebacker David Walker, who missed his rookie season with a knee injury, has two sacks in 28 defensive snaps, one of them in his second game.

The medical report remains unsettled beyond Mayfield. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan is awaiting an MRI to determine the extent of a knee injury, while edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (groin) and linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder) did not play against Minnesota.

The schedule offers no relief. After the Packers (1-2) visit to close a run of three straight home games, Tampa Bay travels to Dallas for a Thursday night matchup and then hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 18. Veteran receiver Chris Godwin Jr. said the team is not executing at a high enough level to turn its chances into wins and that the situation will not correct itself without going back to work.