Buccaneers' Mayfield (thumb) out at least three weeks, Bowles says - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to miss at least three weeks with the dislocated thumb on his throwing hand he suffered Sunday, coach Todd Bowles announced Monday.

Mayfield's MRI showed no additional damage to his right thumb, sources told ESPN. Mayfield, however, still needs to be able to grip the ball, a source said, but he avoided damage to the ligament and tendon, and this is viewed as positive news.

«It's consistent with everything we thought it was — a dislocation. Right now, we're talking about a minimum of three weeks,» Bowles said, adding that the plan for now is to keep Mayfield on the 53-man roster and not place him on injured reserve, but that could change depending on the pace of his recovery.

Bowles said the injury should not require surgery.

Rookie Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas, will replace the injured Mayfield as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback. Bowles said the team will also look elsewhere for help.

«Either a veteran or a practice squad one in that span,» Bowles said. «So, we'll go with Jalon and we'll go play and we'll see what's out there that we can bring on the practice squad or help out on the team.»

At this time, Mayfield and Daniels are the only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, with Easton Stick occupying a spot on the practice squad. Stick did not participate in training camp with the Buccaneers but has seen action in six NFL games as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and 2023 when he made four starts.

Mayfield's injury occurred with 1:54 remaining, when his pass was intercepted by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. The play happened on fourth-and-13, with Mayfield and the Bucs