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News

Newer update on Baker Mayfield: Baker Mayfield injury update: out for Week 6 vs. Steelers (right thumb)

Baker Mayfield injury update: will test thumb Wednesday ahead of Week 6 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Buccaneers quarterback is set to throw on Wednesday as he works to return from a right thumb injury, but head coach Todd Bowles says Mayfield won't play until he's 100 percent.

By Cole Hartwell
Baker Mayfield
Photo: Erik Drost / CC BY 2.0 (cropped) via Wikimedia Commons · License

Baker Mayfield is getting closer to returning from his right thumb injury, according to NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk. The Buccaneers quarterback will test the thumb with a throwing session on Wednesday afternoon, his first step back to the field since injuring it in Week 3.

What happened

Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb at the end of the Buccaneers’ Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings, per Fantasy Football Desk. At the time of the injury, the team did not place him on injured reserve because he was only expected to be out for a minimum of three weeks. It has now been two weeks since the injury.

Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Mayfield is “getting better,” and the team will evaluate him after Wednesday’s throwing session. “We’ll see how much he throws, and see how he looks,” Bowles said.

Bowles added that there has not been much discussion about Mayfield returning a week early because the team has not yet seen him grip and throw the ball. “I don’t know where he’s at,” Bowles said. “Everything right now is speculation.”

Bowles also indicated that Mayfield will not serve as an emergency backup. “If he’s not 100 percent, he doesn’t need to play,” Bowles said.

Context

Mayfield has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 615 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions this season, plus 65 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He has 37.1 PPR points through three games, with 98% of the snaps in those games.

Backup Jalon Daniels has started the last two games for Tampa Bay. He has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 337 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, and has rushed for 87 yards. Daniels has 27.2 PPR points this season and is projected for 13.3 PPR points in Week 6.

Timeline

  • Oct. 4: Fantasy Football Desk reported that Mayfield would miss his first start as a Buccaneer after dislocating his right thumb against Minnesota, ending a streak of 57 consecutive starts. Rookie Jalon Daniels was set to make his first NFL start.
  • Oct. 8: Fantasy Football Desk reported that Mayfield was expected to be out several more weeks because of the thumb injury and had been ruled out for Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. Daniels had started in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers.
  • Oct. 9: Fantasy Football Desk reported that Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing for 23 yards in a 24-16 win over the Cowboys.

Depth chart

Jalon Daniels is listed as the Buccaneers’ QB1 on the depth chart. He has 27.2 PPR points, 337 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and 87 rushing yards this season. Baker Mayfield is listed as QB2. Easton Stick is listed as the fourth quarterback and has not played this season.

What’s next

The Buccaneers play at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, October 18 in Week 6. Mayfield’s availability for that game will depend on how the Wednesday throwing session goes and whether he is cleared by the team.

🏈 Fantasy impact

Mayfield’s Wednesday throwing session is a positive sign but not a guarantee of a Week 6 return. Bowles has been clear that Mayfield will not play until he is 100 percent, so fantasy managers should plan for Jalon Daniels to start against the Steelers. Daniels has been serviceable as a streamer, with 27.2 PPR points through three games and a Week 6 projection of 13.3 PPR points. He has thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions this season, but his rushing ability gives him a decent floor. If Mayfield is declared healthy, he would return to QB1 consideration, but after two weeks off and with a coach emphasizing full health, it may be best to wait a week. Daniels remains a hold in superflex and 2QB leagues.

Quick answers

Will Baker Mayfield play in Week 6?

Baker Mayfield's status for Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers is unclear. He is set to test his thumb in a Wednesday throwing session, and head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield will not play until he is 100 percent.

What is Baker Mayfield's injury?

Baker Mayfield is recovering from a dislocated right thumb that he suffered in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Sources

  1. NFL schedule, Week 6 (ESPN)
  2. Player data (Sleeper)
  3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart, QB (Sleeper)
  4. Jalon Daniels: Notable improvement in second start (Fantasy Football Desk)
  5. Jalon Daniels: What to know about the rookie QB filling in for Baker Mayfield (Fantasy Football Desk)
  6. Baker Mayfield Out: Jalon Daniels to Make First NFL Start vs. Packers (Fantasy Football Desk)
  7. Baker Mayfield "getting better," will test thumb with Wednesday throwing session (NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk)

This article was drafted by AI from the sources above and published after every claim passed an automatic check against those sources. Our editor monitors stories and corrects errors. How we work · Report an error