Baker Mayfield’s Thumb Injury Leaves Buccaneers Winless and Searching for Answers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season has gone from bad to worse. Quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb while scrambling on a 4th down late in Sunday’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN/NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The injury occurred on September 27, and while there is no fracture or ligament damage, Mayfield is expected to miss multiple weeks. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed after the game that Mayfield would undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the exact severity. “He’s going to get an MRI [Monday] just to see exactly what inside is wrong with it, so we’ll know tomorrow,” Bowles said.nnThe timing couldn’t be worse for a Buccaneers team that is winless this season and dead last in the NFL in EPA/Play on offense. Tampa Bay dropped from +5500 to +10000 in the latest Super Bowl odds, and it’s in danger of remaining winless if Mayfield misses a significant amount of time. In his absence, undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels out of Kansas finished the game against the Vikings. While Daniels showed poise, his lack of experience would be a major concern for a team already struggling to find its footing. The Buccaneers’ offense has been anemic, and turning to a rookie signal-caller could lead to even more growing pains.nnMayfield’s stats through the early season reflect the team’s struggles: 615 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The 2-point conversion attempts have also been a disaster, with the Bucs going 0-3. As Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report noted, the team is getting a “thumbs down” in more ways than one. The Pewter Report Podcast further emphasized that Mayfield is expected to miss weeks, leaving the Bucs in a precarious position. With the season slipping away, Tampa Bay must find a way to stay competitive without their starting quarterback.nnFor now, all eyes will be on Mayfield’s MRI results and the team’s plan at quarterback. If Daniels is thrust into the starting role, he’ll need
Shimanta Das 
