Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb during Week 3’s battle against the Minnesota Vikings, and the quarterback could make his return to the field in Week 7. Originally selected with the first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma product began his career on the bench but quickly earned the starting job as a rookie. After a promising rookie season where he completed 63.8% of his passes for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, the quarterback guided the team to the playoffs and earned a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.
However, this wasn’t enough for him to stick around as Cleveland’s long-term answer. The Browns effectively swapped him for Deshaun Watson and, after short stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Baker Mayfield found a home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite making two Pro Bowls in his first two seasons with the club, Mayfield didn’t play well before the injury and went 0-3 to start the season. Despite their current 1-5 record, Tampa Bay is still in the playoff race, and Mayfield could return to help his team this Sunday. According to the team’s practice report, the quarterback was a full participant, which means he will likely start against the Carolina Panthers.
Baker Mayfield Injury Update: Buccaneers QB Likely to Return In Week 7
With Baker Mayfield sidelined, the Buccaneers had no choice but to roll with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. The Kansas product did what he could to keep the season afloat but ultimately finished with a 1-2 record and unimpressive stats. Most 1-5 teams normally don’t stand a chance at the playoffs, but the NFC South gives Tampa Bay a realistic shot at meaningful January football.
As of this posting, the 3-2 Carolina Panthers sit atop the NFC South, and they’re the only team in the division with a winning record. If Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers defeat the Panthers, they’ll only be 1.5 games out of the division lead with a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. Seeing as head coach Todd Bowles could lose his job if the team cannot make the postseason, they’ll have every reason to play hard for the rest of the year.
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