Baker Mayfield didn’t hit the practice field on Thursday, officially shutting down any hopes of an early return from his dislocated thumb. That means undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels is once again gearing up to lead Tampa Bay into battle this Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Mayfield’s Thumb: Still a Major Problem
Listen, we all heard the chatter. Mayfield’s original timeline after suffering that dislocated thumb in the Week 3 loss to the Vikings was a minimum of three weeks, but there were whispers this week, talk of him maybe, just maybe, coming back early. Well, that’s officially dead in the water. Reporters on the scene confirmed Mayfield was a no-show during the media-open portion of practice Thursday. Head coach Todd Bowles even said yesterday that they needed to see if Mayfield could properly grip and throw the ball after his Wednesday throwing session. Clearly, that didn’t go as planned, or he isn’t ready. The dude not practicing Thursday tells you everything you need to know: he’s just not there yet.
Rookie Daniels Steps Up Again
So, it’s Daniels’ show once more. The undrafted rookie gets another crack at it. We know Mayfield’s numbers so far this season: he’s completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 615 yards, with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and he’s lost three fumbles. Daniels, on the other hand, has completed 69.1 percent of his throws. It’s a tough spot for any rookie, let alone one getting thrown into the fire like this. Mayfield’s three-week timeline means the earliest we might see him back is that Week 7 divisional matchup against the Panthers. Until then, Tampa Bay is riding with their rookie.
All eyes will be on Tampa Bay this Sunday when they face Pittsburgh. Can Daniels handle the pressure again, or will the Bucs offense stumble without their veteran starter? It’s a big test for the kid, and a huge game for a team waiting on their QB1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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