Baker Mayfield is moving closer to returning from a dislocated thumb, saying the injury is now strong enough for him to play as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their Week 7 road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield practiced fully for a second consecutive day Thursday, though head coach Todd Bowles had not formally named a starting quarterback. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Tampa Bay has prepared to play either Mayfield or rookie backup Jalon Daniels.
What changed for the franchise
Mayfield had hoped to be back for the Buccaneers’ Week 6 matchup with Pittsburgh, but he determined he would not be Tampa Bay’s best option at quarterback after testing the limits of the injury. The Buccaneers lost that game 26-19 in overtime.
The ninth-year quarterback said his recovery has required patience, particularly because he has rarely missed games because of injury.
“I feel good and I’m improving,” Mayfield said. “It has been a process. I’ve never really had to miss time because of an injury, so it has not been fun. You want to be out there with your teammates. It has gradually gotten better, but injuries like this take time.”
Mayfield has been throwing with a protective glove featuring reinforcement behind his thumb. He acknowledged that the glove changes his grip on the football, but does not expect it to prevent him from playing effectively.
He said the protection should guard against another blow to the injured area, while noting that a hard enough hit could cause damage regardless. Mayfield said the dislocation involved ligament damage but did not require surgery on the tendons or ligaments needed for the procedure.
“We have gotten it to a point where it is strong enough for me to play,” Mayfield said.
Daniels, an undrafted rookie from Kansas, has started each of Tampa Bay’s past three games. He earned the No. 2 job during the preseason over veteran Jake Browning and has added a running element to the offense.
Across those three starts, Daniels completed 60 of 95 passes for 501 yards, with three touchdowns and four interceptions. His performance improved in the Pittsburgh game, and Tampa Bay was in position for an upset before two fourth-quarter interceptions helped Pittsburgh rally and eventually win in overtime.
Mayfield’s likely return does not automatically solve Tampa Bay’s offensive issues. Before the thumb injury, he completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 615 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in three appearances. He also was responsible for five turnovers, while the Buccaneers went 0-3 in games he played.
Tampa Bay has since shown signs of recovery, beating the Cowboys for its first victory of the 2026 season before the narrow overtime loss to Pittsburgh. The Buccaneers enter the Panthers game at 1-5, awaiting Bowles’ final decision and Mayfield’s end-of-week injury status.
