Overview
- The team confirmed Mayfield will not play in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers while he continues to recover from a right-thumb dislocation suffered in Week 3.
- Medical steps this week included removing stitches and a supervised throwing attempt, which produced optimism but not enough to clear him for Sunday’s game.
- Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will make his third straight start, and his strong Week 5 performance against the Dallas Cowboys has complicated the team’s short-term quarterback decision.
- Coach Todd Bowles has stressed the Bucs will not rush Mayfield back, and the club kept him off injured reserve to preserve the option of a midseason return.
- A Week 7 return, if approved after early-week tests, would put Mayfield back for Tampa Bay’s first NFC South game and could change the team’s immediate playoff and roster plans.