The 2026 season has been an ongoing disaster for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After ceding their place atop the NFC South in 2025, the franchise has sunk to the bottom of the league's least predictable division. An 0-4 record includes an opening week loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
, a defeat in Baker Mayfield's revenge game against the Cleveland Browns and an 0-2 record against two of the NFC North's iffiest teams in the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.Things may not get better anytime soon. Mayfield ceded his place in the starting lineup to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels after a dislocated thumb knocked him out of his Week 3 loss to Minnesota. The former Kansas star struggled against the Packers and will attempt to right the ship Thursday
night against a Dallas Cowboys team that marries one of the league's best offenses with an abysmal defense.
That could give Daniels a chance to shine in his second career start. Or it could leave Tampa Bay fans longing for Mayfield's return, even after a brutal beginning to the season.
When will Baker Mayfield return from his dislocated thumb injury?
Mayfield wasn't placed on injured reserve, a designation that allows the team to add another player to the 53-man roster but would keep him out a minimum of four weeks. This suggests the Buccaneers are hopeful he can return toward the early side of the three-to-six week window originally reported in the aftermath of Week 2
That would likely put his earliest return at a Week 7 showdown with the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield hadhis stitches removed earlier than expected, and given his propensity to play through pain, there's a real chance we see him for that important divisional matchup. If healing takes longer than anticipated, however, he could opt to extend his rehab through Tampa Bay's Week 10 bye.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: When will Baker Mayfield return from injury for the Buccaneers?
