Tampa Bay ruled Baker Mayfield out for a third straight game on Friday, which means Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas, makes his third NFL start on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Mayfield did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday with the dislocated right thumb he suffered in a Week 3 loss to Minnesota. As of midweek he had not resumed throwing. Todd Bowles had set the timeline at a minimum of three weeks when it happened, a number chosen partly so Mayfield would not have to go on injured reserve.
The injury has not gotten worse, and it has not gotten better
An MRI reportedly showed no fracture and no ligament or tendon damage, which sounds like good news until you count the weeks. The thumb is on his throwing hand. Until he can throw, the diagnosis does not matter much.
Mayfield is on a three-year, $165 million extension. The Buccaneers are 1-4 and were 0-3 in his three starts.
That last number is the uncomfortable one. Tampa Bay’s only win this season came with Daniels under center, against Dallas.
Daniels has been better than anyone expected and worse than they need
Daniels is 23, 6-foot and 220 pounds, and went undrafted after a Kansas career repeatedly interrupted by injury. He is 1-1 as a starter. His line this season: 38-of-55 for 337 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, a 69.1 percent completion rate and a 74.6 passer rating.
The completion percentage says he is taking what is available. The 112.3 yards per game says what is available is not much. Three interceptions in essentially two starts is the real problem, and Pittsburgh’s defense is not the week to fix it.
The rest of the injury report is brutal
Tampa Bay also ruled out safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with a rib injury and receiver David Sills V with a hamstring. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison is doubtful with a quad. Questionable: linebacker SirVocea Dennis, cornerback Ayden Garnes, linebacker Josiah Trotter and running back Sean Tucker, who Bowles called a possible game-time decision. Chris Godwin Jr., A’Shawn Robinson and Tristan Wirfs were full participants Friday.
Pittsburgh is not healthy either. The Steelers ruled out safety DeShon Elliott, receiver Ben Skowronek and receiver Roman Wilson. Keeanu Benton, Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf are all questionable, with Metcalf missing Friday with an illness.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay is 1-4 with a rookie quarterback it did not draft, a $165 million quarterback who cannot grip a football, and a defense missing its starting safety. The schedule does not care. Bowles has to go win one.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.