Baker Mayfield is set to make his return Sunday in Carolina, according to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, who told reporters Friday that his two-time Pro Bowl quarterback looks “ready to go” for the road game versus the Panthers.
Although Mayfield is technically listed as “questionable” on the Bucs’ injury report, he was a full participant in practice this week.
His expected return will mark his first game since Sept. 27. Back then, during a Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Mayfield dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand. Mayfield’s three-week recovery timeline was reportedly the best-case scenario.
Even though Mayfield’s re-entering the lineup, he won’t have one of his top wideouts to throw to, as Tampa Bay ruled out Emeka Egbuka on Friday. Egbuka’s been in concussion protocol this week.
Egbuka didn’t leave last week’s overtime defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the injury. It wasn’t until he was back in facility this week that his symptoms surfaced, leading to him being placed in the protocol, as reported by ESPN’s Jenna Laine.
Todd Bowles said Emeka Egbuka has “gotta have a heck of a recovery” and “we’ll see, but right now I’m gonna say he’s out too.” He clarified that his official status is doubtful though. But as you can hear, it’s leaning towards no.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 23, 2026
Bowles said they went back and couldn’t… pic.twitter.com/hrjrzo6HY4
Bowles said Friday, via Laine, that the Bucs couldn’t figure out which play Egbuka suffered the concussion. Notably, Egbuka absorbed a fourth-quarter blow from Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, whose shoulder collided with Egbuka’s helmet on an incomplete pass.
But Bowles noted Friday that “there were several plays that it could have happened or not happened on.”
Egbuka, who’s also dealing with a foot issue, currently leads the 1-5 Buccaneeers with 28 receptions and 240 receiving yards. The second-year pro also has a team-high two touchdown grabs.
In addition to missing Egbuka, Tampa Bay will be down right tackle Luke Goedeke. He’ll be sidelined with a calf injury that he picked up last week.
Despite those absences, Mayfield will have to deliver a much-needed win against the NFC South rival Panthers.
In Mayfield’s place, the Bucs turned to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. He went 1-2 in his three starts, highlighted by a “Thursday Night Football” win over the Dallas Cowboys.
But the Kansas product has posted a meager 3:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio over four appearances, with two of those picks coming last week against the Steelers. Daniels threw a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions as Tampa Bay blew a 13-point lead in the final frame.