TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped to 0-3 on the 2026 season Sunday after falling to the Minnesota Vikings 23-16 at Raymond James Stadium, a loss compounded by a dislocated thumb suffered by quarterback Baker Mayfield late in the fourth quarter and a knee injury that knocked receiver Jalen McMillan out of the game early.
Mayfield finished 17 of 34 for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception while absorbing six sacks and 12 hits behind an offensive line that never found its footing. The Buccaneers converted just two of 17 third-down attempts, ran for only 57 yards and were penalized eight times for 81 yards - including a holding call that wiped out an 85-yard touchdown by Chris Godwin Jr.
“We’re 0-3 and we’re a game out of first place, so we have to get our stuff together,” Head Coach Todd Bowles said after the game. “We [have to] reach down and do more, to a coach, to a person, to a player. We [have to] do more and figure out what [more] we can do. How can we be better and come back tomorrow and get ready to go?”
Tampa Bay’s offense totaled just 243 net yards. Emeka Egbuka led the Buccaneers in receiving with five catches for 62 yards, while rookie Ted Hurst III provided the game’s early highlight with a 40-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter that briefly tied the score at 10. The Bucs had trailed after Myles Price returned a kick 86 yards for a Vikings touchdown. Chase McLaughlin contributed a 28-yard field goal as Tampa Bay kept the game within one point heading into the fourth quarter before Minnesota pulled away.
With Mayfield sidelined late, Jalon Daniels made his regular season NFL debut, recording a nine-yard run before his final Hail Mary attempt was intercepted by the Vikings near the end zone.
Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray, returning after missing most of the first two games with a concussion, completed 15 of 29 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jordan Addison caught five passes for 90 yards and a score for the Vikings. Minnesota’s top receiver, Justin Jefferson, left in the first half with an ankle injury after catching two passes for 32 yards, including a 22-yard gain on a dig route.
Defensively, inside linebacker Alex Anzalone and outside linebackers David Walker and Anthony Nelson each recorded sacks on Murray. Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson intercepted a deflected pass - the second interception of his career - and nose tackle Vita Vea broke up two passes and registered a quarterback hit. Cornerback Zyon McCollum added two passes defensed as Tampa Bay held Minnesota to two conversions on 15 third-down attempts.
The Buccaneers return to practice this week with Mayfield’s availability for Week Four uncertain following the thumb injury.