TAMPA, Fla. -- Barring any setbacks, the expectation is that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will return Sunday after a three-week absence due to a dislocated right thumb suffered in Week 3. The Bucs, currently sitting at 1-5, begin divisional play at the Carolina Panthers (3-2).
Mayfield was a full participant in Wednesday's and Thursday's practices and the Bucs' communications staff even delayed its weekly quarterback media availability from Wednesday to Thursday to get a better sense of the team's direction. That's when Mayfield walked in, speaking publicly for the first time since suffering the injury.
Mayfield said he felt "very confident" in his ability to grip the ball and that while there was some degree of tendon and ligament damage, he believes that with rest and giving the wound time to heal (he did not undergo surgery but the dislocation created a wound that required stitches) he has "gotten to a place where it's strong enough to be able to play" and "feels good."
Mayfield has been practicing with a specially made glove on his right hand that has a pad on the back side of the thumb to protect it from bending backward again. It contains metal for reinforcement.
"I mean, truly when you're throwing with a glove, you got to get used to it. Just changing your release points. Can't grip it as hard because it'll stick to the glove. Different things like that. So just getting a lot of reps, getting practice with it, getting used to it and it feels fine."
The team's equipment staff sought out the Tampa Bay Rays for help as it was something the Rays had done previously for an athlete. They went through different options until Mayfield found something he was comfortable with. He said that after the initial adjustment, he doesn't feel a difference in it.
"It's just like me wearing a glove," he said.
Mayfield said the big concern for him was the impact of the ball from under center with Graham Barton.
"It feels fine gripping it, throwing it," Mayfield said. "It's just that the impact stuff, that was really what my concern was and it's felt great so far."
Barton said that's really a matter of him being as consistent as possible.
"You want to place it firmly in between his hands so if anything's off and it hits his thumb -- I can imagine that early on is something you think about just in the back of your head," Barton said. "But I think we've had great exchanges this week. And there haven't really been any issues.
"Baker's a fearless competitor and I think that stuff, when we get to Sunday, we'll be back to normal. That can be weird for a quarterback, especially on his throwing hand, but I think if anyone can handle it well, it'll be him.
The initial prognosis was a three-week minimum, but Mayfield said he tried to beat that and was aiming for the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. But he wasn't 100% and felt backup Jalon Daniels gave the team a better chance to win. He acknowledged that at 1-5 they have a steep hill to climb as they enter divisional play. But with only the Panthers holding a winning record, they're not out of it.
"It is," Mayfield said. "Got to take it one game at a time. And our opponent this week is the one leading division, and so we got to take care of business this week and that's all that matters. It's going to be a 'one game at a time' mentality. But listen -- our guys are ready for it and we'll see what happens."
Despite his absence, Mayfield has been very involved over the past three weeks, doing everything he could to help Daniels in meetings, serving as an "extra voice" for him, and coaching him up in between series in practice and on the sideline in games. He offered input to offensive coordinator Zac Robinson on what he thought could best set Daniels up for success.
"I got to say this, I'm really proud of Jalon," Mayfield said. "I thought, thrown into the fire there, three starts in a row, got a win on the second one in prime time, which was huge. Just the guy he is, the progression he's had from spring through training camp to now -- he's grown up a ton. It was really fun to watch. I know he wants some plays back, but that's the evolution of quarterback. When you're thrown into fire like that, he handled it well."
The feeling in the locker room is that the team was able to make progress with Daniels that will help them better be able to support Mayfield. Coach Todd Bowles said that he believes the mental reps helped Mayfield as well.
"I feel like he's been intact and hands on with everything still, rather it's coaching the guys up in practice in the spots to be on the field and just how to be detailed and be better for Jalon and his situation," wide receiver Ted Hurst III said. "And now he's making his return and we're definitely behind him and he's back to the normal, I'll say."
The team also had what was described by Robinson, Mayfield and several players as a tough meeting earlier this week to address a struggling passing game and the need to be more detailed and consistent with timing and landmarks -- something Mayfield supported.
"We needed to have it," Mayfield said. "It's one of those things -- it's uncomfortable. You can't be sensitive in that. Everybody's got a hand in it. It wasn't just about the last game. It was really more so talking about everything that we've done wrong."