Less than a month after signing a massive three-year, $165 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield is in jeopardy of missing extensive time this season.
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During Sunday's home loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand.
The former No. 1 pick suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter while trying to lead a Buccaneers comeback drive. After evading several Vikings defenders, Mayfield was brought down hard, injuring his thumb.
Baker Mayfield Will Miss Time After Gruesome Thumb Injury
The Bucs captain underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed that he did not suffer any breaks or ligament damage, according to
"He's going to get an MRI (on Monday) just to see what inside is wrong with it," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Sunday after falling to 0-3. "We'll know more tomorrow."
Some of Mayfield's teammates were shocked to see the signal-caller writhing in pain following the interception.
"I was in shock," Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs said, per ESPN. "It's tough. He's a competitor. He was trying to make a play at the end of the game. That's who he is. That's who he's always been."
The injury is the latest blow to a lackluster season thus far for the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay is one of five winless teams through Week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season and carries a -17 point differential. They are scheduled to face the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers over the next month.
Despite the slow start, Bowles is confident that the Bucs will right the ship before the season's end.
"Funny thing, we're 0-3 and a game out of first place," Bowles said in reference to the NFC South. "We have to get our stuff together. We gotta reach down and do more to a coach, to a person, to a player. Gotta do more and figure out what we can do more. And how can we be better."
