Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to return to practice this week for the first time since suffering a dislocated right thumb, but coach Todd Bowles said Monday that the team will prepare as if rookie Jalon Daniels will start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Bowles said Mayfield is supposed to practice Wednesday, and the team will evaluate him during the week before deciding on the starter. Mayfield was expected to miss a minimum of three weeks after the injury in Week 3. He required stitches but did not undergo surgery, and an MRI showed no microfractures, tendon or ligament damage. Sources close to the situation say the key will be his ability to grip and secure the football over a full game, though pain is not currently an issue.
The Panthers are the Bucs' first divisional opponent of the season, coming off a 1-5 start, though they now sit at 3-2 and are the only NFC South team with a winning record. Bowles said both quarterbacks will attend meetings. "I think you have to," he said. "They'll both be in the meetings and we'll see how the week goes before we decide who it is."
Daniels led the Bucs to their first win of the season, a primetime victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. He threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter of a 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and was sacked on fourth down in the final moments. Mayfield struggled in the three games before his injury, throwing two touchdowns, two interceptions and losing three fumbles while being sacked 13 times.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing