Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles says Baker Mayfield will miss at least three weeks due to his dislocated right thumb, but that is the minimum. Sources told ESPN that Mayfield is expected to be sidelined anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on how quickly he can grip the football. Three weeks is the Bucs' best hope.
Mayfield underwent an MRI on Monday that showed no additional damage beyond the dislocation. Bowles said surgery should not be required, but Mayfield got stitches to close the wound. The Buccaneers did not place Mayfield on injured reserve, and they do not think he will need to be added, even if the injury sidelines him longer than four weeks.
The Bucs will start undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who will become the first rookie quarterback this season to start a game. Daniels, who spent six seasons at Kansas, won the backup job over Jake Browning. He will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, with Easton Stick as his backup. The team also signed veteran Brett Rypien to the practice squad.
Daniels will be the first Bucs rookie quarterback to start since Jameis Winston in 2015. The Buccaneers (0-3) visit the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 and host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing