Baker’s Back: Buccaneers HC Confirms Mayfield Set to Start

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their starting QB ready to play. 

Coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday that Baker Mayfield is “good to go” for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers and the Bucs anticipate him to start.

During Tampa’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings Sept. 27, Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb and ended up missing the next three games.

He could have been out for as long as six weeks, so Mayfield returning in less than a month is a best-case scenario for Tampa.

For obvious reasons, it’s a big deal. For the past three weeks, Tampa had relied on an undrafted rookie free agent to be its QB1. 

Although Jalon Daniels held his own at times and even got a win against the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry World, it was apparent by the end of Sunday’s brutal loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at home that the Bucs needed Mayfield back as soon as possible.

Daniels attempted 43 passes against the Steelers and only completed 22 for 164 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, including a crucial one to former Buc Jamel Dean with less than two minutes left that set up a crucial Steelers field goal.

Although Daniels regrouped enough to lead the Bucs on a game-tying field goal drive that sent the game into overtime, the Bucs ended up losing, with Daniels taking a sack on the last play.

Assuming Mayfield stays healthy for the rest of the season, Daniels’ time as Tampa’s starter for this year will end with 501 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.

Mayfield started the first three games of Tampa’s season, throwing for 615 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

This came after a turbulent offseason in which the “will he or won’t he?” saga of Mayfield signing a new deal was the biggest storyline of Tampa’s summer.

Bucs fans were happy when the deal eventually got done, but significantly less happy when the team started 0-3 with Mayfield at the helm.

Things haven’t gotten better without Mayfield. 

The Bucs are 1-5, and only four teams in league history have recovered from 1-5 to make the playoffs.

Even more damning is the fact that, not too long ago, the Bucs were 0-4, and only one 0-4 team (the 1992 San Diego Chargers) bounced back to make the postseason.

It’s possible that, even if Mayfield plays well and the Bucs improve, it would still be too little, too late. But in any case, Tampa is happy to have No. 6 back in the fold.