Baker Mayfield is expected to be back under center Sunday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers try to halt an early-season slide in a pivotal NFC South road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Mayfield looked ready after practicing all week, despite the quarterback remaining officially listed as questionable. Mayfield has missed Tampa Bay’s last three games with a dislocated right thumb, his throwing hand.
“He looked good,” Bowles said following Friday’s workout. “He appears ready to play.”
Mayfield set for return in Charlotte
- Mayfield opened the season as Tampa Bay’s starter but the Buccaneers lost each of his first three starts.
- He then suffered the thumb injury and missed the next three games.
- Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels took over during Mayfield’s absence and helped the Buccaneers earn one victory.
- Mayfield was a full participant in practice throughout this week and is now in line to start when Tampa Bay visits Carolina at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
The quarterback is expected to wear a glove on his injured throwing hand, an adjustment he will need to manage in his first game action since the injury.
Tampa Bay will also be without two offensive starters. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and right tackle Luke Goedeke have both been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup.
Division race adds urgency
The Buccaneers enter the weekend at 1-5 and last in the NFC South. Carolina leads the division at 3-2, while the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are each 2-4.
With NFC wild-card opportunities looking limited for the division, Tampa Bay’s clearest route back into the postseason race is likely a push for the South title. That makes Sunday’s trip to face the first-place Panthers a significant test for Mayfield and the Buccaneers.
Mayfield will also be looking for a better performance than he delivered before the injury. Across his three starts, he averaged 205 passing yards per game, threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions, and posted an 80.0 passer rating.
Carolina’s defense enters the game ranked 25th in the NFL in yards allowed, giving Mayfield a potential opening to regain rhythm. The teams finished tied at 8-9 last season, though the Panthers claimed the division on a tiebreaker despite losing the season finale to Tampa Bay.
Mayfield’s availability has answered the Buccaneers’ biggest injury question of the week. Sunday will determine whether his return can provide the turnaround Tampa Bay needs.
