As if losing a third straight game to open the 2026 season and dropping a second in a row at home wasn’t bad enough, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield went down with an injury late in the team’s 23-16 loss to the Vikings Sunday evening. And it’s an injury that could cost the veteran signal-caller some time.

On a fourth-and-13 play inside of two minutes in the fourth quarter, Mayfield was immediately under pressure and had to vacate the pocket. He moved one way, turned to the other, doubled back and ran around to evade Minnesota defenders for as long as he could, but in the end, he unleashed a pass right into the hands of Andrew Van Ginkel for an interception that effectively sealed the game.

After releasing the ball, Mayfield’s throwing hand made contact with the arm of Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman on the follow through. The 31-year-old quarterback went down and was heard screaming on the broadcast before coming off the field holding his hand. He would very quickly head to the locker room with the trainers.

When the Bucs eventually got the ball back with 33 seconds to play in a seven-point game, it was rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels who entered the game for the final drive. After Tampa Bay’s 23-16 loss came to a close, head coach Todd Bowles told the media that Mayfield has a dislocated thumb and will undergo an MRI Monday to determine the severity of the injury.

Ultimately, the MRI will determine the length of time Mayfield will miss, but the snap expectation Sunday evening is that the thumb injury will cost him time. 

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The 0-3 Bucs are back home next Sunday to host the 1-2 Packers, and as of now, it would seem that they’ll be searching for their first win of the season with someone other than Baker Mayfield under center.

Everyone will be awaiting the MRI results to see just how long Zac Robinson’s offense will have to operate with a new quarterback, but this can be a 1-2 week injury at minimum and if there’s surgery involved, it’ll be a significant chunk of the season. It’s worth noting, too, that even if Mayfield and the Bucs get the best news possible, next Sunday’s game is the first of two in five days, as the team’s Week 5 contest comes on Thursday Night Football at Dallas.

Baker Mayfield, Bucs Offense Have Been Big Problems During 0-3 Start

A dislocated thumb is just the latest in a rapid run of disappointment for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. It wasn’t even 20 days ago that the team announced that it had signed Mayfield to a three-year, $165 million contract extension that came out to an average of $55 million per year.

For Tampa Bay, that meant committing its foreseeable future to the guy it believed to be its franchise quarterback. And for Mayfield, it was the type of long-term deal and financial terms he was seeking when he very vocally voiced his displeasure with the organization’s handling of the negotiation process at the start of training camp.

Agreeing to that deal just ahead of Week 1 felt like it could only be a good thing vibes-wise, as everything was squared away and the Bucs seemed primed to start the season strong. Instead, it’s been the complete opposite.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs lost their season opener to the Bengals in Cincinnati 33-27, largely due to three lost fumbles by Mayfield. Then, in what was set up to be a triumphant revenge game for Mayfield against the Browns, he was 21-of-34 for 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Beyond the fact that he coughed up his fourth turnover in two games, he and the Buccaneer offense were a disjointed mess for much of the day, particularly in the red zone. Tampa Bay lost 23-19 and dropped to 0-2 on the season.

Then came Sunday, when the offense looked even worse than it did in Week 2, albeit against a vaunted Vikings defense. Mayfield was never comfortable, as he was sacked six times and completed only 17 of his 34 passes for 217 yards, a touchdown and that late interception. The Bucs were 2-of-16 on third downs while Mayfield was in the game.

Through three games, Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s offense have been horrible. They’ve been held to 20, 19 and 16 points, and Mayfield himself is 61-of-96 (63.5%) for 615 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, along with one rushing score and three lost fumbles. He has also been sacked 13 times.

And, obviously, to make all of that worse, there’s now the injury that is set to cost Mayfield some time as the Bucs are 0-3 and set to face a run of games against the Packers, Cowboys and Steelers ahead of their NFC South opener against the Panthers on Oct. 25.

Simply put, it’s been a nightmare of a few weeks for Mayfield and this Tampa Bay team, which seems to be going nowhere fast, even if they’re only one game out of first place in the NFC South despite being 0-3.