The 0-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit a major snag for their Week 4 game against the Green Bay Packers. Starting QB Baker Mayfield dislocated his throwing hand thumb in the fourth quarter of their loss to the 3-0 Minnesota Vikings, according to Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. This puts an undrafted rookie potentially under center, throwing the Bucs’ season into even more uncertainty.
Mayfield’s Rocky Game and Rookie’s Tough Start
Mayfield’s outing against Minnesota was a grind, with stats of 17 of 34 for 217 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a whopping six sacks. When he went down, QB2 Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie, saw his first NFL regular-season action. It wasn’t pretty: Daniels went 0 of 3 for an interception on a Hail Mary attempt.
Depth Chart Dilemma in Tampa
The Buccaneers’ practice squad quarterback is Easton Stick, a 31-year-old former fifth-round pick. Stick was with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp until the roster cutdown deadline and only joined Tampa Bay on August 31st. While Mayfield hasn’t been officially ruled out for the Packers game yet, the situation demands close attention. If he can’t go, Daniels, that undrafted rookie with minimal experience, is likely to get the start.
What’s Next for the Winless Bucs
This is a brutal challenge for an 0-3 team desperate for a win. Facing the Packers in Week 4 with a questionable starting QB or a raw undrafted rookie under center means the stakes are incredibly high for Tampa Bay to try and turn their season around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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