Licht: Baker Mayfield is a franchise quarterback

Previous reports put the timeline at 2-4 weeks, so it’s possible the injury is worse than initially expected. The good news is that testing revealed no ligament or tendon damage in Mayfield’s thumb. Per Schefter, Mayfield’s return will depend on how quickly he can grip the ball. That is typically the first step in throwing a football. For now, UDFA rookie Jalon Daniels will draw the start. He is worth a look in Superflex leagues but can’t be played in one-quarterback formats.

Mayfield dislocated his thumb in Week 3’s loss against the Vikings. The 31-year-old quarterback had no ligament or tendon damage. According to Pelissero, it would be tough but not impossible for Mayfield to return in Week 5, making Week 6 against the Steelers the more likely return date. Jalon Daniels will start for the Buccaneers against the Packers in Week 4.

In addition to a clean report on his ligaments and tendons, the MRI also revealed no fracture. This is as good of news as the Buccaneers could have hoped for, as Mayfield’s absence is expected to be on the shorter end compared to what it could have been had the MRI revealed more damage. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is looking at a minimum three-week absence, which would put him in line to return for Week 7 against the Panthers if all goes well. Rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels, who went 0-for-3 passing with an interception against the Vikings, will draw the start in the Buccaneers’ Week 4 game against the Packers.

This is the “best-case” scenario, according to Rap. Mayfield will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of his injury and could miss more time if an MRI reveals “significantly torn ligaments in his thumb,” per Rap. The Buccaneers will now pivot to rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels as their starter after Daniels won the backup job in camp. Daniels threw for 9,282 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions in six seasons at Kansas while also rushing for over 1,400 yards and another 23 scores. All Buccaneers pass-catchers will receive a significant downgrade heading into Week 4’s game against the Packers.

The Buccaneers’ quarterback slammed his throwing hand into a Vikings defender this afternoon and remained down for a while after the play. UDFA rookie QB Jalon Daniels is next up on the depth chart and would be the presumptive starter next week against the Packers if Mayfield cannot play.

Mayfield was down for a while after taking a big hit from two Vikings defenders late in the fourth quarter, and replays showed his thumb slamming against one of the Minnesota players in a way that might suggest a serious thumb injury on his throwing hand. An extended absence for Mayfield could prove disastrous for Tampa’s pass catchers, as undrafted free agent QB Jalon Daniels would be the team’s starter. Mayfield threw for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before his exit. Daniels would be an interesting superflex add considering his rushing ability.

Mayfield didn’t speak to reporters after practice because of the illness, but the team didn’t limit his practice reps. It’s possible the Bucs lighten his workload over the next two days, but he should be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Mayfield will look to get back on track after a sluggish start to the season. He has fallen into the QB2 ranks until further notice.

Mayfield, after throwing for just 216 yards and fumbling three times in Week 1 against the Bengals, was just as bad against Cleveland. He took three sacks and held on to the ball far too long on several drop backs in the second half. His only touchdown went to a wide open Emeka Egbuka from eight yards out. Mayfield missed a couple easy throws that could have gone for long gains, and overthrew Ted Hurst three times after Hurst had beaten the Cleveland secondary. With his late-season struggles bleeding into the 2026 campaign, Mayfield won’t be a one-QB league option in Week 3 against the Vikings.

Playing his first game since landing a three-year extension, Mayfield provided as many touchdowns for the other team as he did the Bucs. His score was a rugged nine-yard rush late in the fourth quarter, but his touchdown gift was a 27-yard fumble-six in the first. Mayfield was drifting trying to avoid pressure but never felt one of the oncoming rushers. Another one of his giveaways came on a reckless red zone rush where he was practically begging to turn the ball over. Mayfield, as always, contained multitudes. Emeka Egbuka was his leading receiver, but Bucky Irving caught the most passes. The running back leading the team in catches is not usually going to get it done. Looking to bounce back from this error-prone mess, Mayfield gets the Browns for the Bucs’ Week 2 home opener.

The Buccaneers apparently reached out to Mayfield’s agent over the weekend; deadlines do drive action after all. Mayfield is now under contract through his age-34 season. It’s not exactly a curious move for the Buccaneers — they didn’t have much of an avenue to find another quarterback given where they usually pick and rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels is their current backup. It is still a little surprising they let it twist in the wind as long as it did. Mayfield likely will be near the $50 million average annual value club once all the figures come in. (Some of this will be folded into the already-existing one-year contract.) He’ll be a reasonable superflex QB2 with a shot to rebound now that last year’s injuries are behind him.