CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Baker Mayfield returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ lineup Sunday for a critical NFC South matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, ending a three-game absence caused by a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand - but the quarterback will do so without three of his starting teammates.
Mayfield, who carried a questionable designation into the weekend, practiced without limitations throughout the week and will wear a specialized glove on his right hand to support the injured joint and prevent the thumb from bending backward.
His return comes at a cost, however. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Buccaneers’ top receiving target, is out for the Week Seven contest with both a concussion and a foot injury. Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke is sidelined with a calf ailment, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss his third consecutive game due to a rib fracture.
The Buccaneers and Panthers submitted their inactives lists at 11:32 a.m. ET, 90 minutes before kickoff. Tampa Bay elevated linebacker Caden Fordham from the practice squad, giving the team 54 available players and requiring six inactives to reach the game-day limit of 48. The Buccaneers’ six inactive players are defensive lineman DeMonte Capehart, Egbuka, cornerback Ayden Garnes, Goedeke, guard Billy Schrauth and Winfield.
Carolina elevated outside linebacker Nick Hampton and cornerback Robert Rochell from its practice squad and named seven inactives: running back A.J. Dillon, defensive tackle TeRah Edwards, tackle Stone Forsythe, center Sam Hecht, third-string quarterback Haynes King, outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Phillips, one of the Panthers’ top pass-rushers, is out with a hamstring strain. Fellow outside linebacker Thomas Incoom is also unavailable due to a calf issue and was placed on injured reserve Saturday.