Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has missed the last three games with a dislocated thumb he suffered in Week 3.
The Buccaneers have gone 1-2 with Jalon Daniels at the helm, and while the rookie has shown a lot of promise, it’s clear that getting Mayfield back would give Tampa Bay its best chance at turning the season around.
Mayfield’s status for Week 7 is still up in the air, but Todd Bowles just delivered the most encouraging update yet. There’s reason to believe the Buccaneers could be getting their starting quarterback back this week.
Baker Mayfield injury update gives Buccaneers reason for optimism ahead of Week 7
Bowles said earlier in the week that Wednesday’s practice would be crucial in determining Mayfield’s status for Week 7.
Mayfield was able to grip and throw the football effectively, the key measuring stick in his recovery, and Bowles came away encouraged by what he saw.
“I think he’s coming along fine. I think once he got warmed up it started looking pretty good as practice went on, so we’ll continue to monitor and see how he goes through the week.”
ESPN’s Buccaneers insider Jenna Laine added more context, including that a final decision can be expected on Friday.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he anticipates making a decision about quarterback Baker Mayfield on Friday. He said he threw the ball well today and did well in what he was asked to do. They split reps up. A big thing will be how he feels tomorrow after a day of practice.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 21, 2026
“Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he anticipates making a decision about quarterback Baker Mayfield on Friday. He said he threw the ball well today and did well in what he was asked to do. They split reps up. A big thing will be how he feels tomorrow after a day of practice,” wrote Laine.
The Buccaneers face division rival Carolina on Sunday, with the Panthers currently sitting atop NFC South at 3-2. Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes are already hanging on by a thread, and if they hope to turn things around and make a late push for the division title, this is a game they absolutely need to win.
A loss would drop the Bucs to 1-6 and leave them three games behind the Panthers, including a head-to-head loss potentially looming large in the division race. Mayfield’s availability is crucial, as Tampa Bay will need its starting quarterback if it hopes to pull off a much-needed road win.
The Buccaneers will learn Friday whether their franchise quarterback is ready to return from injury and give them a much-needed boost against Carolina and down the stretch.
While nothing is official yet, things look promising for Baker Mayfield’s return.
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