Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield to miss three weeks after dislocating throwing-hand thumb

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb on his throwing hand late in Sunday's 23-16 Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to miss three weeks, according to head coach Todd Bowles. An MRI performed Monday revealed no fracture and no ligament or tendon damage, per CBS Sports. Mayfield, tied as the NFL's third highest-paid QB at an average of $55 million annually after signing a three-year contract extension three weeks ago, suffered the injury with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers trailed by four points facing fourth-and-13 when Mayfield was hit while throwing, resulting in an interception to Minnesota's Andrew Van Ginkel. He was seen writhing on the ground and heard screaming as he grasped at his right hand before walking off the field with trainers and heading to the locker room, according to the reporting. Mayfield had completed 17 of 34 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception before exiting. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who played six years at Kansas, replaced him under center on the Buccaneers' next possession. Daniels rushed once for nine yards and failed to complete any of his three passing attempts, including a Hail Mary intercepted by Isaiah Rodgers. The Buccaneers' next three games are against the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. Based on Bowles' three-week timeline, Mayfield would be eligible to return for the team's game on October 25 against the Carolina Panthers, per CBS Sports. Tampa Bay is 0-3, having suffered losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. This marks the franchise's first 0-3 start since 2014. The Buccaneers are the sixth team in the past decade to start 0-3 with all three losses coming in one-score games. Since the team's bye week in 2025, the Buccaneers are 2-10 outright and 0-12 against the spread, the longest streak without a cover in the Super Bowl era, according to CBS Sports. Tampa Bay was the betting favorite in eight games during that stretch and lost each of them outright, including three where it was favored by at least a touchdown. Coach Todd Bowles said during a recent SEC teleconference: "We're 0-3 and we're a game out of first place." The NFC South is the only division in which all four teams hold a losing record.