Bucs QB Baker Mayfield to have thumb stitches removed Monday, pushing on three-week return

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is scheduled to have the stitches removed from his thumb Monday, an important step as he pushes to beat the three-week timeline for returning.

Mayfield is intent on getting back sooner than the standard recovery window. The thumb injury has kept him out of the lineup, and the next few days are the clearest indicator yet of whether he can accelerate that return.

Getting the stitches out cleanly Monday would put Mayfield on a fast path back to practice and, eventually, the field. Tampa Bay has been managing without its starter under center, and a quicker-than-expected return would be a significant boost for the offense.

For now the Buccaneers are playing it week to week, with Mayfield's progress over the coming days the key to how soon the starting job is his again.