Baker Mayfield is getting closer to returning for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The veteran quarterback was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, his first full session since dislocating his right thumb in Week 3. Tampa Bay has not yet named a Week 7 starter against the Carolina Panthers, but Mayfield’s return to full participation is the clearest sign yet that he could be back under center Sunday.
Baker Mayfield Returns to Full Practice
Reuters reported Wednesday that Mayfield participated fully for the first time since suffering the injury against Minnesota.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield progressed well during practice, but the Buccaneers will continue to evaluate how his thumb responds over the next two days.
That matters because the injury is on Mayfield’s throwing hand. Tampa Bay needs to be confident he can grip the football normally and throw with his usual velocity before putting him back into game action.
Will Baker Mayfield Play Week 7 vs. the Panthers?
The answer is still not official.
The Buccaneers’ Week 7 preview says Mayfield could return against Carolina if his hand responds well to Thursday and Friday work. If he is not cleared, rookie Jalon Daniels will make his fourth consecutive start.
Mayfield and Daniels split practice reps Wednesday, and Bowles has said both quarterbacks are being prepared as if they could start.
That makes Friday’s final injury report the next major checkpoint.
Mayfield Has Already Missed Three Games
Tampa Bay originally expected Mayfield to miss at least three weeks after the dislocation, and that timetable has now been reached.
The initial MRI showed no fracture or tendon damage, and surgery was never expected to be necessary.
Mayfield has now missed exactly three games.
The question is whether the thumb is functional enough for him to return without compromising the offense.
Jalon Daniels Has Kept Tampa Bay Competitive
Daniels has started all three games in Mayfield’s absence.
He has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 501 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions, while also adding 126 rushing yards.
The Buccaneers are 1-2 in those starts.
Daniels has given Tampa Bay mobility and athleticism, but the offense has lacked consistency. That is why Mayfield’s possible return matters so much.
The Panthers Game Is Especially Important
Tampa Bay enters Week 7 at 1-5 and has almost no margin for error left.
The Panthers lead the NFC South, and this is the Buccaneers’ first divisional game of the season.
The Buccaneers have openly framed the game as critical because the teams ahead of Tampa Bay are the teams it now has to beat directly.
Getting Mayfield back would not solve every problem, but it would restore the quarterback the offense was designed around.
What Comes Next?
Mayfield’s return to full practice is encouraging.
It is not a guarantee that he will start.
The Buccaneers will monitor how his thumb responds, split preparation between Mayfield and Daniels, and make a final decision closer to Sunday.
For now, the most accurate description is simple:
Baker Mayfield is trending toward a possible Week 7 return, but Tampa Bay has not yet officially cleared him to start against Carolina.
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