Confirmation from Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles on Monday: starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers and at least two other games after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand in Week 3, and the 0-3 Buccaneers will start rookie Jalon Daniels in Week 4.
"Right now, we're probably talking a minimum of three weeks," Bowles said of Mayfield's recovery timeline on Monday.
Bowles confirmed the Buccaneers would add a quarterback to the roster or practice squad at some point, but Daniels is the expected starter against the Packers on Sunday.
"We'll go with Jalon Daniels," Bowles said.
Daniels, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas, will make his first NFL start after earning a spot on the 53-man roster
as Mayfield's backup to start the 2026 season.
"He played well in the preseason. He's very bright, and he won't be out there by himself," Bowles said. "We expect him to do his job and play at a high level."
Daniels went 0-for-3 passing and threw a game-sealing interception after replacing Mayfield during Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. During the preseason, he completed 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, helping him beat out veteran Jake Browning for the No. 2 quarterback spot.
The Packers are 1-2 and coming off a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 3. After a weekend of rest and recovery, Matt LaFleur's team will face a rookie backup quarterback in a must-win situation on the road on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Baker Mayfield OUT, Packers to face rookie Bucs QB Jalon Daniels in Week 4
