Mayfield Expected to Practice as Buccaneers Prepare Daniels for Division Games
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at a critical point in their season, with quarterback Baker Mayfield expected to practice as he recovers from a thumb injury. His potential return is seen as a crucial opportunity to boost the team's performance…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 19, 2026 —
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for upcoming division games with uncertainty at quarterback. Baker Mayfield is expected to practice while recovering from a thumb injury, while rookie Jalon Daniels is also being prepared to start.
Mayfield’s potential return is viewed as an important opportunity for the team to improve its performance and re-enter the NFC South race. However, the available information does not say when he might return to game action or whether practicing would lead to him starting. His recovery status and the team’s plans therefore remain central questions ahead of the division matchups.
Daniels’ preparation gives Tampa Bay another option if Mayfield is not ready to play. The summary identifies Daniels as a rookie and says he is being prepared to start upcoming division games, but it does not provide further details about that preparation or specify which games are involved.
The Buccaneers are described as being at a critical point in their season, but no record, standings position or performance figures were provided. The information also does not name Mayfield’s injury timeline, describe the severity of the thumb injury, or give a date for his expected practice. Those details would help clarify how soon the team might have to make a decision about its starting quarterback.
For now, the reported plans point to two possibilities: Mayfield could move closer to a return by practicing, or Daniels could be called on to start in division play. No final decision on the starter was provided.
Story summarized from the original created by By Rick Stroud, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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