Baker Mayfield to miss third consecutive game as Jalon Daniels starts; optimism for return next week at Carolina
Mayfield remains sidelined with a dislocated thumb suffered in Week 3, but the Bucs believe he could be back in time for their first division game of the season
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Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss a third consecutive game Sunday as Tampa Bay faces the Steelers, but there is growing optimism he could return next week for the team's first division matchup of the season at Carolina, per Tom Pelissero.
Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero): Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will miss a third consecutive game since dislocating his thumb in Week 3. But there's optimism he'll return next week — just in time for Tampa Bay's first division game of the season at Carolina.
Mayfield dislocated his thumb in Tampa Bay's Week 3 loss to the Packers and has not practiced since. Rookie Jalon Daniels, the team's third-round pick out of Kansas, has held down the starting job in his absence and will make his fourth straight start against the Steelers.
Daniels has shown poise beyond his experience. He's completed 63 percent of his passes over the last three games with a 4-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he led a game-winning drive against the Panthers in Week 4. But the offense has missed Mayfield's veteran command. The Buccaneers rank 17th in third-down conversion rate and 24th in red-zone efficiency since Daniels took over.
The Steelers matchup is a natural inflection point. If Mayfield is cleared to return next week at Carolina, he'd step back into the lineup for the Bucs' first NFC South contest of the season — a game that could determine Tampa Bay's path in a division where no team is above .500 through five weeks. The Steelers defense, which has sacked opposing quarterbacks 15 times this season, will test the Buccaneers' protection schemes and could influence the medical staff's decision on whether to bring Mayfield back this week or hold him through the bye.