Baker Mayfield is sidelined for three weeks after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand during the Buccaneers’ 23-16 Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. This is a brutal blow for a team that signed him to a massive three-year, $55 million per year extension just three weeks ago, tying him as the third highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Now, they’re already sitting at a dismal 0-3.
The Play That Sent Baker Mayfield To The Locker Room
The injury went down with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Bucs were down four points, facing a fourth-and-13. Mayfield bought time in the backfield, trying to make something happen, but while he was getting hit, he threw an interception to Andrew Van Ginkel. Folks, he was seen writhing on the ground, screaming and grasping at his right hand. He eventually walked off with trainers and went straight to the locker room. The MRI on Monday showed no fracture and no ligament nor tendon damage, which is good, but it’s still three weeks on the bench.
0-3 Is Brutal, What’s Next Is Worse
This team is already in a rough spot, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Vikings to kick off the season. This is their first 0-3 start since way back in 2014, and get this: they’re the sixth team in the past decade to start 0-3 with all three losses being one-score games. That’s a trend you do NOT want to be part of. His replacement, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, came in for the next possession. He rushed once for nine yards, but failed to complete any of his three pass attempts, including a Hail Mary that got picked off by Isaiah Rodgers. Talk about a tough debut!
What’s next for the Bucs without their QB? They’ve got the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers on deck. This schedule is brutal, and without Mayfield, things could get really ugly, really fast. He’s currently slated to return for their game on October 25 against the Carolina Panthers. Can they survive three weeks without him?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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