Baker Mayfield dislocated his throwing-hand thumb in the Buccaneers' 23-16 loss to the Vikings, coach Todd Bowles said. X-rays showed no break, with an MRI planned Monday to assess the injury's severity
Baker Mayfield leaves the field
Baker Mayfield leaves the field(Image: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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Baker Mayfield was left writhing in agony after suffering an injury during the the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
"He's got a dislocated thumb. He's going to have an MRI (Monday) just to see exactly what inside is wrong with it," coach Todd Bowles revealed following Sunday's 23-16 defeat to the Vikings, marking the Bucs' first 0-3 start since 2014.
Although X-rays ruled out a fracture in the right thumb, Bowles emphasized the team won't understand the full extent of the damage until after the MRI results come back. It comes after Mayfield's agonizing screams were heard live on FOX.
The Bucs have dropped 10 of their last 12 contests stretching back to last season, and the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who revitalized his career after arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023, has struggled since inking a three-year, $165 million contract extension just days before the season kicked off.
Tampa Bay's offense managed two touchdowns in a season-opening defeat to Cincinnati and just one in a loss to Cleveland. Mayfield linked up with rookie Ted Hurst III for a 40-yard TD in the first quarter Sunday, but couldn't lead the Bucs into the end zone again against the Vikings.
Mayfield completed 17 of 34 passes for 217 yards and endured six sacks. An 85-yard touchdown connection with Chris Godwin was wiped out by a holding call in the third quarter.
The Bucs haven't opened 0-3 since a dismal 2-14 campaign that led to drafting Jameis Winston first overall the following year.
Baker Mayfield lays on the ground
Baker Mayfield lays on the ground(Image: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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"The funny thing is we're 0-3 and we're a game out of first place. We have to get our stuff together, reach down ... do more and figure out how we can be better," said Bowles, who came into the season under pressure after losing seven of nine following a 6-2 start in 2025.
The coach stood by his choice to keep the offense on the field for the play that led to Mayfield's injury.
Down 20-16, Tampa Bay faced fourth-and-13 from their 39-yard line with under two minutes remaining. Mayfield scrambled deep into Bucs territory, retreating inside the 15-yard line before throwing a pass that linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel picked off.
Five plays later, Will Reichard nailed a 43-yard field goal, extending Minnesota's lead to seven with 33 seconds on the clock.
"At the end of the game, we needed the play," Bowles explained regarding the fourth-down gamble. "We would've gotten the ball back with very little time. We had to make a play."
Rookie Jalon Daniels took over for Mayfield on the final possession, which concluded with a fourth-down interception as the clock hit zero. Should Mayfield be sidelined next Sunday, the rookie would likely make his first professional start against the Packers.
"We haven't really gotten into it yet. We'll see what the MRI says, and then we'll kind of talk amongst ourselves and kind of see," Bowles explained. "But right now, Jalon would probably go in."