Baker Mayfield (thumb) listed as full participant

Mayfield hasn’t played since dislocating his thumb in Week 3. As of late last week, he hadn’t even thrown a football since suffering the injury. Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday that he’s preparing for Jalon Daniels to start, but Mayfield’s return to practice puts things up in the air. His practice statuses over the next few days will be telling. For now, fantasy managers should still plan on seeing Daniels under center, but this is a situation to monitor throughout the week.

Bowles has already said that the team is preparing as if Jalon Daniels will start in Week 7, but the team will be evaluating Mayfield to see how he is progressing in his recovery from a dislocated thumb. Mayfield reportedly pushed to play last week after throwing on Monday, but his thumb swelled up, which factored into the decision to sit him in Week 6’s loss to the Steelers. Given Bowles’ comments about the team’s plans entering the week, it sounds like Mayfield is at risk of missing at least one more game, but we’ll see how his hand responds when he gets on the field on Wednesday.

Bowles said this week will be an important evaluation week for Baker Mayfield, who is still rehabbing a dislocated thumb that has sidelined him since Week 3. Daniels hasn’t been overly impressive in his three starts this season, throwing for 501 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions while also taking nine sacks. That said, he did manage to pull off a win over the Cowboys in Week 5 and had the Buccaneers in position to beat the Steelers in Week 6 before Pittsburgh erupted for 16 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. We’ll see how things unfold throughout the week, but it sounds like Mayfield is at least one week away from returning. Daniels would be on the fantasy radar as a low-end QB2 if he gets the start against Carolina.

Mayfield didn’t practice this week, but according to Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles he threw on Monday and was pushing to play before his “thumb swelled up on him.” It seems like Mayfield is trending in the right direction and that he could return against the Panthers in Week 7 if the swelling is no longer an issue. Jalon Daniels is starting for Tampa Bay again in Week 6 against the Steelers.

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles gets another tick in the obfuscation column. On Wednesday, Bowles told reporters that Mayfield has not resumed throwing yet. Today, Palmer tells us that Mayfield “was pushing hard to play,” and, perhaps briefly, resumed throwing on Monday. Apparently, his thumb reacted poorly. Palmer adds that Mayfield is “getting better,” but that does not necessarily mean he will be able to play next week. Stay tuned.

It’ll be the Jalon Daniels show again. Mayfield did not practice at any point this week. Todd Bowles tried to tell us that it was too early to tell earlier today; it wasn’t. We’ll need to see Mayfield on the practice field next week before we think he has a real shot to play against the Panthers in Week 7.

Mayfield has already been ruled out for Week 6’s game against the Steelers. After being a DNP in practice all week, Mayfield could still be another week away from returning. It was reported on Wednesday that he is still unable to grip/throw a football, so this will be a situation to keep an eye on when the Bucs begin prepping for next week’s game.

Mayfield will be ruled out for Week 6 tomorrow. Having not thrown a football since his Week 3 thumb injury, he’s also unlikely to suit up for next week’s game against the Panthers. Jalon Daniels will draw at least one more start versus the Steelers this week. His rushing production will keep him in the QB2 ranks for Sunday’s game, but a lack of passing numbers makes him a weak fantasy option.

Mayfield did not practice today and is a safe bet to miss Week 6 as he continues to work his way back from the dislocated thumb he suffered in Week 3. The fact that he can’t even throw a football right now, let alone participate in practice, suggests Mayfield could be out beyond just Week 6. Jalon Daniels will start on Sunday versus the Steelers. Daniels has been held well under 200 passing yards in both of his starts, but he does at least have 78 rushing yards in those contests. His output as a runner will keep him in the QB2 mix for Week 6.

Mayfield is unlikely to suit up this week against the Steelers, leaving Jalon Daniels to get another start for Tampa. Daniel last week in a win over Dallas completed 19-of-25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, rushing for 23 yards. Daniels ranked tenth in EPA per drop back on the week and 11th in drop back success rate. His rushing makes Daniels a viable superflex option this week against the Steelers.