Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss another game with his dislocated right thumb after coach Todd Bowles ruled him out of Sunday’s clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bowles confirmed on Friday (US time) that undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will start again, Yahoo Sports reported. The club’s official Friday injury report listed Mayfield as out after he did not practise on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Mayfield dislocated the thumb in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and has not played since. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said on Thursday that the thumb was “just not quite ready” this week, CBS Sports reported, citing Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.
“No more update than usual. He’s not ready to go,” Bowles said on Friday, via Pewter Report’s Matt Matera. Asked whether he was encouraged by Mayfield’s throwing, he added: “I’ll be encouraged when he has his helmet out there practicing.”
Daniels gets another start
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Daniels led the Bucs to their first win of the season in Week 5, a 24-16 Thursday night victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Tampa Bay ran for 214 yards and gained more than 400 yards of offence in that game, while forcing three takeaways.
According to Buccaneers.com, Daniels will be trying to become the first undrafted rookie quarterback since Warren Moon in 1984 to beat the Steelers as a starter.
Steelers arrive in form
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Pittsburgh is coming off a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is 1pm ET on Sunday, which is 4am AEDT on Monday.
Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (rib) and receiver David Sills V (hamstring) have also been ruled out for Tampa Bay, while cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) is listed as doubtful.
A win would lift the Buccaneers to 2-4 and keep them in the NFC South race, while a loss would drop them to 1-5, Sports Illustrated’s Bucs site noted. There has been no update yet on Mayfield’s chances of playing in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers.
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