The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are having a season from hell, falling to 0-3 and finding themselves on the verge of another lost season.
Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Tampa Bay through three weeks, and the hits just keep on coming.
Baker Mayfield exited the Buccaneers' Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings late in the fourth quarter with a hand injury, and he could miss some time.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb
Baker Mayfield has a dislocated thumb and will be undergoing an MRI, per coach Todd Bowles. pic.twitter.com/i0nt3vFJRj
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) September 27, 2026
Todd Bowles spoke to reporters following the game and revealed that Mayfield is dealing with a dislocated thumb, and an MRI is scheduled for tomorrow to determine the true severity of the injury.
"He's got a dislocated thumb. He's going to get an MRI tomorrow." Bowles said.
Bowles added that the initial X-rays came back negative for fractures, but tomorrow's MRI could reveal additional damage. When asked if Mayfield could miss several weeks, Bowles didn't rule out an extended absence, reiterating that the Bucs would know more tomorrow after the MRI.
Mayfield is a tough, gutsy player who's known to battle through injuries, and he'll do whatever it takes to get back on the field as soon as possible. But he seemed to be in serious pain when he went down with the injury on Sunday, and it's nearly impossible to operate an offense effectively with a thumb injury on your throwing hand.
The Bucs are already 0-3, and the season is slipping away from them. If Mayfield is sidelined for a significant amount of time, things could get ugly fast. Uglier than they already are in Tampa Bay.
While Mayfield hasn't met expectations so far this season and has objectively played some of his worst football as a Buccaneer through three games, he still gives this team the best chance to win. The backup quarterback is undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, and while he stood out during the preseason, his lack of experience was on full display. That will be even more apparent going against first-string defenses that are game planning against him.
Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million extension this offseason, and the Buccaneers need him back, and at his best, to help weather the storm of what's shaping up to be a difficult season.
With difficult matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys next on the docket, both within the next 12 days, the Buccaneers will be crossing their fingers and hoping for good news to come out of tomorrow's MRI. Tampa Bay needs their franchise quarterback back as soon as possible.
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