Based on Baker Mayfield’s comments this week, his previously dislocated thumb (against Minnesota in Week 3) is not 100 percent.
The Joe typing here thinks Mayfield returning to start Sunday is borderline ridiculous.
What exactly are the Bucs trying to prove? One prime excuse for last year’s collapse was banged up or injured players, including Mayfield. Yeah, so go ahead and toss Mayfield back into the fire when he’s not really ready. That sounds brilliant.
Consider how Mayfield talked about his ailing throwing thumb this week:
_“Just improving”_
_“It’s been a process for me”_
_“Just doing the rehab process, doing as much as possible each and very day”_
_“Trying to recover as quick as possible”_
_“Take it one day at a time. So it’s been feeling better slowly better and better. That’s the frustrating part. It just takes time for an injury like that.”_
_“We’ve gotten it to a place where it’s strong enough to be able to play.”_
Is Mayfield at 60 percent, 75?
Here are two things Mayfield said about the realities of throwing with a glove. Both make Joe want to punch a wall.
_“Changing release points”_
_“Can’t grip \[the ball\] as hard because it will stick to the glove”_
For the optimists out there, Joe acknowledges Mayfield said his thumb “feels good.” He added he’s “very confident.”
Mayfield sounds like a guy who needs another week of rehab and rest. But this is how desperate teams roll in October.