Following Sunday’s 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said what everyone expected to hear.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to return to practice on Wednesday as the team prepares to open NFC South play against the rival Panthers, who won the division last year and are currently in the lead with a 3-2 record. The game is this Sunday at Carolina.

Last week Mayfield demonstrated his grip and threw the ball for the first time in front of Bucs trainers, coaches and personnel staff since dislocating his thumb in a Week 3 loss to Minnesota, but he did not participate in any practices.

The Bucs are now 1-5, having gone 1-2 with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels at quarterback as Mayfield’s replacement.

“He’s supposed to practice Wednesday,” Bowles said. “We’re going to take a good look at him there, and we’ll kind of evaluate him during the week and see how he does.”

Baker Mayfield Will Practice This Week, But Will He Start For Bucs At Carolina?

Baker Mayfield will have some hurdles he will have to jump through before he’ll be cleared to resume starting on Sundays. As his injured thumb is on his throwing hand, Mayfield will not only have to prove that he can grip the ball and throw it accurately and with velocity, he’ll also have to show that he can handle taking snaps from under center.

Will a hard snap under center re-injure his thumb during practice? Will his thumb get sore and swell up from repeated throws during the week? Will any pain or swelling linger from practice to practice that could negatively impact his performance and prevent him from playing effectively on Sunday should he start against the Panthers?

Bucs QBs Jalon Daniels and Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Embattled Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said the team will have to proceed with the thinking that Jalon Daniels would continue to start from a game-planning standpoint until Mayfield shows that he can start after a week’s worth of practice. Obviously both quarterbacks will be in the meeting rooms with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson digesting the game plan for the week.

“I think you have to,” Bowles said about preparing Daniels to start for a fourth straight week until Mayfield proves otherwise. “Both will be in the meetings, obviously. Both will be in the meetings and we’ll see how the week goes before we decide who it is.”

Mayfield still leads the team in passing, completing 61-of-96 passes (63.5%) for 615 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions along with a rushing score and three lost fumbles.

Daniels has completed 60-of-98 passes (61.1%) for  501 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions in three starts and a brief appearance at the end of the Minnesota game in Week 3, filling in for the injured Mayfield.