Baker Mayfield Is Finally Throwing, But The Four Words From His Coach Tell You Exactly What’s Really Going On

Baker Mayfield’s thumb injury has kept him off the field for two games now, but the Bucs QB is finally set to take a big step towards a potential return. He’s got a throwing session lined up for Wednesday afternoon, which is huge for a team trying to figure out their signal-caller situation.

The Dislocated Thumb Saga Is Far From Over

Mayfield went down with that dislocated thumb and has been sidelined for a couple of weeks. When it first happened, the team didn’t even put him on IR, figuring he’d only be out for a minimum of three weeks. We’re two weeks into that timeline now, and while the guy is “getting better,” according to head coach Todd Bowles, it’s clear there’s still a ton up in the air. The throwing session on Wednesday is the first real test to see how well he can grip and sling the ball again.

Coach Bowles Is Not Mincing Words On Mayfield’s Return

Don’t even think about Mayfield making an early comeback, though. Bowles shut down any talk of a Week 3 return, saying there hasn’t even been much chatter about him returning ahead of schedule. Why? Because they simply haven’t seen him throw yet! Bowles was brutally honest, telling reporters, “I don’t know where he’s at.” He even doubled down, adding that “Everything right now is speculation.” The message is crystal clear: Mayfield won’t be back until he’s 100 percent, no emergency backup roles. If he’s not fully healed, he’s not playing, plain and simple.

Mayfield’s Numbers Before The Layoff

Before the injury forced him out, Mayfield had completed 63.5 percent of his passes. He’d racked up 615 passing yards, tossed two touchdowns, and thrown two interceptions. It’s not a huge sample size, but those numbers are what we’ve got to work with as we wait for him to get back into game shape.

So, all eyes are on that Wednesday throwing session. It’s the first real indicator of where Mayfield is in his recovery. Will he look good? Will the thumb hold up? The answers to those questions will dictate everything for the Bucs in the coming weeks. We’ll be watching closely to see if “getting better” actually means “getting ready.”

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.