For the first time in four years, the Buccaneers will be starting someone other than Baker Mayfield at quarterback in Week 4.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday that Mayfield will miss a minimum of three weeks after dislocating his right thumb in the team's 23-16 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
Tampa Bay will start undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels in Mayfield's place when it hosts the 1-2 Packers on Oct. 4. Daniels went 0 for 3 passing with a game-ending interception after coming on in relief of Mayfield against Minnesota. Daniels also gained 9 yards on one rushing attempt. The last QB other than Mayfield to start for Tampa was Tom Brady, back in the 2022 season.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier on Monday that an MRI revealed no ligament or tendon damage to Mayfield's thumb. The injury occurred on a fourth-and-1 play in the fourth quarter on Sunday, when the QB was hit by linebacker Blake Cashman as he threw a pass that was intercepted. Based on what Bowles said on Monday, it appears the earliest return date for Mayfield is Week 7, when the Bucs will visit the division-rival Panthers.
It's been a dreadful start to the season for the Bucs, who are still searching for their first win. The 31-year-old Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension five days before the start of the 2026 season. Through three games, he has the lowest EPA per dropback (-0.30) of any quarterback with at least 50 pass attempts this season, per Next Gen Stats.
Before signing with the Bucs after going undrafted in April, Daniels, 23, spent six seasons at Kansas, where he became the first four-time team captain in school history. He beat out Jake Browning for the backup job with a strong showing in camp, and now gets an opportunity to spark the offense against a Green Bay team that just gave up 35 points to the previously lifeless Falcons.
The Bucs do not have any other QBs on the 53-man roster, but they do have 31-year-old Easton Stick on the practice squad. Stick is in his seventh NFL season and started four games for the Chargers in 2023.
