The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely be without Baker Mayfield for at least one more game, based on head coach Todd Bowles’ recent comments.
There have been mixed signals regarding Mayfield’s gameday status. Bowles has maintained his initial timeline, which called for his quarterback to miss a minimum of three games. However, NFL insider James Palmer has contradicted that, reporting on multiple occasions that Mayfield would attempt to beat that timeline and return against the Steelers.
Mayfield did not practice on Tuesday. After practice, Bowles spoke to reporters and provided another update on Mayfield’s status.
Baker Mayfield is unlikely to play for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6
“Nothing’s changed. I mean, he’s getting better. We’ll see how much he throws and how he looks,” Bowles said.
Bowles was then asked whether Mayfield could serve as the backup behind Jalon Daniels if he showed progress but wasn’t quite ready to start.
“If he’s not 100 percent, he doesn’t need to play.”
No official designation has been made yet, so there’s still a (very) slim chance Mayfield could return. But the Buccaneers aren’t going to rush him back. Unless something drastically changes, reading between the tea leaves, the team is preparing for Mayfield to be sidelined for another week.
That’s objectively the right move. Daniels is playing good football, and the Buccaneers need to protect their $165 million investment. They can’t afford to risk Mayfield re-aggravating his injury and going down long term.
Daniels has given Tampa Bay a reason to feel confident in taking that approach. The rookie has provided solid play as the backup quarterback, even helping the Buccaneers earn their first win of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. While Mayfield’s absence obviously isn’t ideal, Daniels’ progress has made it easier for the coaching staff to avoid rushing its franchise quarterback back into action.
As much as Mayfield would love to be out there, if he's not 100% healthy, the best way he can help the team is by continuing to recover and shifting his focus to Week 7 — a crucial divisional battle against the Carolina Panthers. The NFC South matchup carries significant weight as Tampa Bay looks to climb the division standings, and getting Mayfield back to full strength for that contest would give their Buccaneers their best chance to win a pivotal game that could have serious implications for their playoff hopes.
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