Still-winless Tampa Bay just got hit with a gut punch, and it’s a huge one: quarterback Baker Mayfield went down with a dislocated thumb late in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. Talk about a bad break, especially when you’re needing to stack wins just to have a chance at a playoff berth. This isn’t just a minor ding; NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Mayfield is “likely to miss time,” and with tests planned for Monday, the question of how long he’ll be out looms large over a team already in crisis.
The QB Carousel Is Not What They Need Right Now
Look, no one’s gonna argue that Mayfield has been lighting it up this season. He hasn’t exactly lived up to those No. 1 pick expectations. But let’s be real, can anyone else on that roster give Tampa Bay a better shot at winning right now? The answer is probably a hard no. Any time missed by Mayfield, whether it’s one game or an extended absence, is a massive blow. The Buccaneers simply haven’t played without him recently; the last quarterback to start a game for that franchise who wasn’t Baker Mayfield was none other than Tom Brady. That’s a steep drop-off, and without a veteran quarterback to lean on, this situation feels even more precarious.
Meet Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay’s New Starting QB
So, who’s up next? It’s undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels out of Kansas, and he’s now backed up by Easton Stick. The Buccaneers actually had some confidence in Daniels coming out of training camp, planning originally for Jake Browning to be the No. 2 guy before Daniels beat him out this summer. But confidence from training camp and being ready for primetime in a regular season game are two totally different things, aren’t they? Daniels didn’t exactly look ready for the moment in the brief run he saw against the Vikings after Mayfield went down.
With Daniels under center, Tampa Bay will undoubtedly want to lean heavy on its rushing attack. Bucky Irving was efficient in the first two games, but even he struggled against a stout Minnesota defense on Sunday. Next up, the Buccaneers face a Packers run defense that got absolutely gashed by Bijan Robinson in Week 3. However, that unit played much better in the opening two weeks of the season and will be well-rested coming off “Thursday Night Football.” Can an offense that struggled with Mayfield suddenly play well enough to win with an undrafted rookie? It’s tough to envision, and the jury is definitely out on how good Green Bay’s run D truly is.
This is a brutal spot for Tampa Bay, staring down a winless season and a huge question mark at the most important position. They’ll host the Packers next, and if Daniels can somehow pull off a surprise, it would be nothing short of a miracle for a team in desperate need of a win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply