The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, and the injury status of quarterback Baker Mayfield remains unknown as he continues to recover from a dislocated thumb.
The initial verdict by head coach Todd Bowles was that Mayfield would miss at least three games, and he reiterated that expectation, saying he expects rookie Jalon Daniels to make his third consecutive start.
However, conflicting reports indicate that Mayfield is pushing to beat the initial timeline and make a surprise return on Sunday. Just days before kickoff against Pittsburgh, the Buccaneers’ quarterback situation remains up in the air. We’ve got you covered with live updates on Baker Mayfield’s injury status for Week 6.
Baker Mayfield injury updates: Tracking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB’s status for Week 6
On Thursday Night Football in Week 4, just days after Mayfield suffered his thumb injury, Amazon Prime’s NFL insider James Palmer speculated that Mayfield would fight to return earlier than Bowles’ initial three-game-timeline.
“Don’t be surprised if Baker tries to push this and come back after two [missed games],” Palmer said.
Now, Palmer is pushing that narrative again, and seems to have some real inside scoop about Mayfield’s status and desire to return in Week 6.
“I'm told Mayfield is pushing to play but it's 10 days out and it's too early for the Bucs to know medically if he can go. The stitches were taken out Monday and it's a matter of his thumb healing, pain tolerance and [gripping] the football. The medical staff obviously has a big say if he goes,” wrote Palmer.
Pewter Report noticed during Tampa Bay’s Week 5 game in Dallas that Mayfield was wearing a much less cumbersome brace on his thumb on the sideline — a sign that the healing process is progressing and Mayfield is working his way back.
A close-up pic of Bucs QB Baker Mayfield's injured right thumb shows he could be much closer to returning to action – perhaps in Week 6 vs. the Steelers.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) October 9, 2026
Mayfield was sporting a far less cumbersome brace this week on his previously dislocated thumb in Dallas on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/Mp08JTFG3H
Still, Bowles expects Daniels to start for one more game.
“I’ll know more when he comes in but right now we’re planning on starting Jalon against the Steelers,” said Bowles.
If there’s one thing we know about Mayfield, it’s that it kills him to be off the field, and if he can play, he’ll want to be out there on Sunday.
The Buccaneers might need to protect him from himself and ensure he doesn’t rush back before he’s truly ready, putting himself and the team in jeopardy. But if his thumb heals enough for him to grip the football and throw without any significant pain, don’t rule out Mayfield returning against the Steelers.
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