Baker Mayfield is preparing to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after missing three games with a dislocated thumb, and another professional sports team in the area helped him get back on the field.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays helped develop a customized glove designed to protect Mayfield's injured throwing hand. The glove adds support behind his thumb to keep it from bending backward while still letting him grip and throw the football.
The idea came from Rays home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond, who modified a receiver's glove by removing the original thumb portion and creating space for a protective insert. Two versions were developed, one using hard plastic and another incorporating a softer, cast-like material.
It's an unusual collaboration between two Tampa Bay franchises, especially as the Rays prepare to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series. Even as they prepare for their own championship run, members of the Rays' equipment staff found time to help the Buccaneers get their starting quarterback closer to returning.
Mayfield has been practicing with the modified glove this week as he adjusts to the added protection around his thumb. He explained that the glove requires changes to his grip and release, but the extra repetitions have helped him get more comfortable throwing with it.
The veteran quarterback suffered the injury during Tampa Bay's Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and has missed the past three games. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels has started in his absence, helping the Buccaneers earn their first victory of the season against Dallas before Sunday's 26-19 overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
Mayfield participated fully in all three practices this week, and head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Friday that he expects Mayfield to start Sunday's NFC South matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Despite that expectation, the quarterback was officially listed as questionable on Tampa Bay's final injury report.
Getting Mayfield back would provide an important boost to an offense that has struggled to establish consistency through six games. His experience recognizing defensive pressure and making pre-snap adjustments should help an offense that has been operating with a rookie quarterback still learning the NFL.
The Buccaneers enter Sunday's game at 1-5 and need to begin turning their season around. Mayfield's return won't solve every problem offensively, but having their veteran quarterback back under center is an important step.
And thanks to some help from the Rays, he'll have a little extra protection when he takes the field.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Baker Mayfield gets unexpected help from Tampa Bay Rays