TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will return to practice this week for the first time since suffering a dislocated right thumb, but Tampa Bay will prepare as if rookie Jalon Daniels will play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, coach Todd Bowles said Monday.
"He's supposed to practice Wednesday," Bowles said Monday. "We're gonna take a good look at him there and then we'll kind of evaluate him during the week and see how he does."
The expectation was always that Mayfield would miss a minimum of three weeks after suffering his injury in Week 3.
He required stitches initially because of the way in which his thumb bent but did not undergo surgery. An MRI revealed no microfractures, tendon or ligament damage. He has now entered the early part of a potential window to return, but sources close to the situation say the key will be how well he is able to grip the football. And of course, that gripping action would be required over the course of an entire game. It's not just about gripping the ball but securing it, sources have said, while adding that pain is not currently an issue.
As for how the team goes about preparing for the Panthers this week -- their first divisional opponent of the season after a 1-5 start -- Bowles explained why the team will prepare as if Daniels will make his fourth straight start.
"I think you have to," Bowles said. "They'll both be in the meetings and we'll see how the week goes before we decide who it is."
Daniels was able to secure the Buccaneers their first victory of the season -- a primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 but threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter in a 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The Bucs struggled to establish a ground game and sustain drives in that contest, forcing Daniels into 43 passing attempts.
Daniels was then unable to match quarterback Aaron Rodgers' 6-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard with 3:20 to go in overtime. The game ended with Daniels being sacked on fourth down by an unaccounted-for Jalen Ramsey on a blitz. That's a situation where Mayfield's experience could have helped, but he struggled in the three games before sustaining the injury, throwing two touchdowns with a third on the ground, two interceptions, and he lost three fumbles. He was also sacked 13 times.
Is it possible the Bucs could change the trajectory of their season as divisional play begins? At 3-2, the Panthers are currently the only team in the NFC South with a winning record. Last season, the Bucs, Panthers and Atlanta Falcons all finished with losing records (8-9) but were tied atop the division, with Carolina advancing via a tiebreaker.