Sports

Baker Mayfield Expected to Play Despite Thumb Injury as Buccaneers Face Bears

By Global Sports Desk

Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, is slated to play in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. He has participated in all practice sessions this week—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—while managing a thumb injury on his throwing hand. The Buccaneers will also be without linebacker Yaya Diaby, who is out with an MCL sprain. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who cleared his injury designation, will start despite a toe injury earlier in the week, and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is officially questionable but expected to return after full practices.

Mayfield’s thumb injury began in late September during a Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He dislocated his right thumb in the fourth quarter when his hand collided with Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman’s forearm during a pass attempt that was intercepted. Initial X‑rays ruled out a fracture, but an MRI examined potential soft‑tissue damage, swelling, and ligament strains associated with an axial load dislocation. The injury sidelined him for three weeks; he returned to action two weeks ago.

In a recent interview, Mayfield said, “Yeah, I don’t know if until the offseason it’ll feel back to completely normal. But yeah, it just feels better and better each week, especially after, obviously, the last two weeks not having to use it that much, not a lot of contact.” He added, “So yeah, just continuing to do what I need to throughout the week treatment‑wise to continue to make it better to where I don’t have any steps backwards. But yeah, it’s feeling better and better.”

In the five games he has played this season, Mayfield has completed 68 of 110 passes (61.8%) for 679 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, with an 80.8 passer rating. The game between the Buccaneers and Bears will begin tonight at 8:20 PM Eastern Time.