Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his throwing thumb during a 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, compounding a dismal start to the NFL season for the struggling franchise. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles announced after the game that Mayfield will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the internal damage, though initial X-rays showed no fracture in the quarterback’s right thumb.
How the Injury Occurred Against Minnesota
The injury happened as relentless pressure from the Minnesota defense forced Mayfield out of the pocket. Scrambling more than 20 yards backward, Mayfield threw a desperate pass that resulted in an interception. During the subsequent throwing motion, his throwing hand grazed the arm of Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman.
“He has a dislocated thumb. He’s going to have an MRI just to see exactly what is wrong on the inside,” Bowles stated after the defeat, according to reporting by Fred Goodall. Mayfield exited the Raymond James Stadium without speaking to reporters following the game.
Offensive Struggles and Historic Slide for Tampa Bay
The 23-16 defeat dropped the Buccaneers to 0-3 for the first time since the 2014 season. The last time Tampa Bay opened a season with three consecutive losses, they finished the year 2-14 and drafted Jameis Winston with the first overall pick.
Mayfield finished the game completing 17 of 34 pass attempts for 217 yards and was sacked six times by the Vikings defense. Tampa Bay’s lone offensive highlight through the air came in the first quarter when Mayfield connected with rookie Ted Hurst III for a 40-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, an 85-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin was nullified by a holding penalty.
The Buccaneers have now dropped 10 of their last 12 games dating back to last season. Mayfield, a two-time Pro Bowler who revitalized his career after arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023, signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension less than a week before the start of the regular season.
Worth a look