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    Mayfield dislocates right thumb, will undergo MRI

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    Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said QB Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb and will undergo an MRI.

    Mayfield is right-handed, so this injury could be consequential. The Buccaneers’ quarterback slammed his thumb 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.
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  • TB Quarterback #6
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    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    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.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Licht during a Wednesday presser said the Bucs were “on to Cincinnati” with the regular season less than two weeks away. Licht has called Mayfield a franchise quarterback, but has not offered the veteran a long-term deal ahead of the 2026 season. Mayfield could be on his way out of Tampa in 2027 unless the team decides to use the franchise tag on him. Mayfield ranks 11th out of 40 qualifying QBs in adjusted EPA per drop back since the start of the 2024 season, ahead of Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott, among others.
  • TB Quarterback #10
    It was subsequently announced that Jake Browning has been released. A UDFA out of Kansas, Daniels impressed during training camp and the preseason. He completed 27-of-44 passes for 239 yards, one score, and no interceptions. Daniels also ran for a touchdown. With Baker Mayfield set to hit free agency after this year, Daniels could be worth stashing in Superflex dynasty leagues.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield played just two series and was without his top four receivers, with only Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell joining him as presumed regular starters. Even so, the offense was hardly able to showcase its upside against backup members of the Kansas City defense. Whether Mayfield and the rest of the starters play in the team’s final preseason game next week remains to be seen, but there appears to be significant room for improvement before they kick off the regular season against the Bengals in three weeks.

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  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
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    Rashod Bateman caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards in the Ravens’ Week 3 win over the Cowboys.

    As expected, Bateman was reduced back to a lightly used WR2 with Zay Flowers back in the lineup. After going for 7-88-1 on nine targets last week against the Saints, Bateman saw just three targets in Sunday’s win, with one of those resulting in a 31-yard gain. Bateman’s 20 routes run led the Ravens’ in Sunday’s win, but he offers nothing of fantasy value as long as Flowers is in the lineup. Fantasy managers who added him after his Week 2 breakout can send him back to waivers ahead of Week 4’s game against the Titans.
  • CAR Quarterback #9
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    Panthers coach Dave Canales said Bryce Young (leg) will undergo imaging “just to make sure” on Monday.

    Canales didn’t want to get specific about Young’s status after he took a cleat to the leg, but deferred also to the idea of “other things.” It’s never incredible news to be looking down the barrel of imaging, but Young was able to return and play through the injury on Sunday and this has the feel of an “out of an abundance of concern” test for the 25-year-old quarterback.
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    Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Jalen Thompson (hamstring) is set to miss “four-plus weeks.”

    In other words, he’s headed to injured reserve. The Cowboys safety room has been besieged by injuries this year, with Malik Hooker also missing time. They don’t have another safety on their practice squad so they may be hunting the tryout circuit on Tuesday.
  • TB Wide Receiver #11
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    ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports Jalen McMillan is having an MRI on his left knee.

    McMillan suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and did not return to the game. The 24-year-old receiver has played in two games this season but has yet to register a catch on the nine offensive snaps he has played. It’s been a rough two seasons for McMillan, who missed nearly all of last season with a serious neck injury that sidelined him until Week 15.
  • HOU Offensive Coordinator
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    Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said “nope, we’re all in this together” when asked about possibly replacing OC Nick Caley.

    Sugar, we’re going down swinging. Caley’s offense has been underwhelming so far — though not having Nico Collins for Weeks 2 and 3 hasn’t helped — and there’s a lot of pressure on this Texans offense at this time. In-season offensive coordinator replacements aren’t exactly bets to go well either way, but Caley is going to have to do a lot better over the next 14 weeks if he wants to keep his job after the end of this year.
  • CAR Cornerback #8
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    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (quad) is out indefinitely.

    According to Pelissero, Horn is seeking a second opinion on his injury, but a stint on the IR is “likely,” and the star corner could “miss significant time.” it’s a brutal blow to a Panthers secondary that has been among the league’s best for the first three weeks of the season. A big reason for their success has been Horn’s play. He has been targeted just 10 times thus far, allowing five receptions for 63 scoreless yards with two pass breakups, per PFF.
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports an MRI revealed no ligament or tendon damage to Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb.

    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.
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    Giants acquired QB J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the trade. McCarthy landing with John Harbaugh’s Giants feels a bit too on-the-nose given his connection with Jim Harbaugh during his days at Michigan. McCarthy was at one point competing for the Vikings’ QB1 job in camp with Kyler Murray, but was knocked all the way down to QB3 on the Vikings’ depth chart when Carson Wentz took over for Murray in Week 1 and drew the start in Week 2. Assuming Jameis Winston doesn’t suddenly exceed expectations and lead an efficient passing attack, McCarthy will probably get a shot to start at some point when he gets up to speed with the offense. McCarthy has thrown for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 career games while completing 57.6 percent of his passes. We’ll see if a change of scenery is all he needs to turn the corner and live up to the hype that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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    Packers signed OG Mekhi Becton, formerly of the Chargers.

    Becton worked out for the Packers on Monday and signed shortly after. The veteran guard fills an immediate need for an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries as of late. Becton appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Chargers last season while playing exclusively at right guard. He earned a 35.7 PFF offensive grade while allowing 37 pressures and three sacks, and struggled to replicate the run-blocking success he had in 2024 while with the Eagles. He certainly fills a need, but time will tell if this proves to be a difference-making signing for an offensive line that has struggled out of the gate.
  • BUF Quarterback #17
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    Josh Allen completed 16-of-26 passes for 204 yards and two interceptions in the Bills’ 24-16, Week 3 win over the Chargers, adding 22 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.

    Allen certainly wasn’t good in this one, but he wasn’t alone. The Bills turned the ball over five times, committed 10 penalties, and allowed four sacks and somehow won this game. His first interception was on a truly bad read over the middle of the field. The second was on a deep pass into coverage when Allen thought he had drawn an offside. The pass managed to hit the safety in the back and then land in his stomach when he rolled over after hitting the ground. Allen would also fumble on a sack later in the game. The Chargers did a good job of taking Allen’s scrambles away, and this entire Bills team was in disarray, so nobody was consistently open down the field. That being said, Allen’s two rushing touchdowns give him 85 for his career, which means he’s now tied with former Bill Marshawn Lynch for 17th on the NFL’s all-time list. The Bills and Allen will look to get things straightened out against the Patriots next week, and Allen will clearly be in your lineups.