Baker Mayfield will miss the next three weeks with a thumb injury, according to several reports.
Mayfield dislocated his thumb in the fourth quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, but MRIs Monday morning revealed no structural damage.
Also on Monday morning, head coach Todd Bowles announced that Mayfield will miss "at least three weeks" with the injury.
Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman hit Mayfield as he maneuvered around defenders in the pocket before eventually firing a pass that was intercepted by the Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel. Mayfield laid on the ground, writhing in pain, for several seconds before walking off under his own power.
That interception put the nail in the coffin for the Bucs hopes to finally win a game - they're now 0-3 with the Green Bay Packers looming.
Now, they'll have to manage the next few weeks without the heart and soul of their team. Undrafted rookie backup quarterback Jalon Daniels spelled Mayfield for the rest of the game and was 0/3 with an interception through the air.
When Could Baker Mayfield Return?
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After Bowles' comments, it can be assumed that the Bucs will get their QB back in either Week 6 against the Steelers or Week 7 against their division-rival Panthers.
Getting Mayfield back for that Panthers game would be especially crucial. While Tampa is 0-3 already, they're still only a game back in a division that has been, simply put, a joke.
Mayfield, fresh off a contract extension, has not played well to open the season thus far, and maybe the time off will give him some time to self-scout himself and be better once he returns.
Through three games, Mayfield has completed 61 of 96 passes for 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
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