Baker Mayfield Dodges Disaster After Dislocating Throwing Thumb
Ian Rapoport reported no fracture and no ligament or tendon damage.
dislocating the thumb on his throwing hand sounds like the kind of injury that ruins a season before Halloween. But according to Ian Rapoport, the quarterback just pulled off a medical miracle.
The MRI results are officially in, and Mayfield somehow avoided a fracture, ligament damage, and tendon tears. His thumb essentially rage-quit the game without doing any permanent structural damage on the way out.
The injury happened late in the fourth quarter of 's 23-16 loss to the on Sunday. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed it was indeed the right thumb, which immediately sent the entire fanbase into a panic spiral.
For context, trying to throw an NFL football with a busted thumb is like trying to pitch a baseball while wearing an oven mitt. It is structurally impossible to grip the ball, let alone drive it downfield into tight coverage.
Anyone holding a Buccaneers division ticket or relying on Mayfield in a superflex fantasy league can finally exhale. A clean MRI does not guarantee he is going to be out there slinging it pain-free next Sunday, but it keeps the long-term value alive.
The focus now shifts to pain management and grip strength as the week goes on. Mayfield is likely going to miss some practice time, but just dodged a massive bullet.