TAMPA - Baker Mayfield’s season took a serious hit Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand late in a 23-16 home loss to Minnesota, leaving undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels as the likely starter when the Buccaneers host the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium on October 4.
The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 0-3, its worst start in recent memory, with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Green Bay now looming as a must-win for a team already staring at a deep early-season hole in the NFC South standings.
Green Bay arrives in Tampa in little better shape, having fallen to 1-2 after a 35-14 blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons at home last Thursday night. The Packers’ position in the NFC North is precarious: Green Bay will drop to fourth place in the division if Chicago defeats Philadelphia on Monday night.
Despite both teams’ struggles, the series carries significant historical weight. The Buccaneers and Packers have met 57 times, with Green Bay holding a 33-23-1 all-time advantage - that one tie being the only draw in Buccaneers franchise history. Tampa Bay has won three of the last four meetings, however, giving the home team a recent edge heading into Sunday’s contest.
Minnesota, which handed Tampa Bay its third straight defeat, sits at 3-0 and leads the NFC North. The Buccaneers will need to navigate the Packers game without their established starter while Daniels, who went undrafted, prepares for what would be his first NFL start.