Baker Mayfield says injured thumb is strong enough to play against Panthers
The Buccaneers quarterback says his throwing-hand thumb has improved enough for game action, a firmer signal after his return to practice in a glove
Baker Mayfield says his injured throwing-hand thumb is now strong enough to play when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. His assessment was relayed by Greg Auman.
Mayfield returned to practice Wednesday wearing a glove on his right hand. Tampa Bay had been evaluating how he threw with that protection before making its next decision. He said Thursday that he feels confident gripping the ball, and Auman reported that the padding in the glove is intended to keep the thumb from bending backward during play.
Mayfield says he feels “very confident” in being able to grip the ball with his injured thumb. Glove on throwing hand has padding in it that should help limit the chance of it bending back in a game.View on X →
Greg Auman (@gregauman): Mayfield says he feels “very confident” in being able to grip the ball with his injured thumb. Glove on throwing hand has padding in it that should help limit the chance of it bending back in a game.
Auman said the signs point to Mayfield starting at Carolina, barring a setback, but that is an expectation rather than an official starter announcement. The Buccaneers still have the rest of the week to assess the hand before Sunday's game.
Tampa Bay used Jalon Daniels during Mayfield's absence, making the decision a practical choice at quarterback rather than a routine injury-list change. Mayfield's own account of his grip and the protective glove give the team a more specific basis to judge a return than Wednesday's first practice alone. The question now is whether those gains hold through the final preparations for Carolina.