Baker Mayfield Sidelined 3-6 Weeks With Dislocated Thumb
depending on how quickly he is able to grip the football, per sources
is officially on the shelf, and the recovery timeline is currently as vague as a contractor's estimate. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss anywhere from three to six weeks.
The actual return date hinges entirely on one highly specific medical milestone: how quickly can actually grip a football again. That means the Bucs are flying blind for at least the next month while their starter tries to squeeze a pigskin without his hand screaming at him.
A dislocated thumb for a quarterback is the equivalent of a track star pulling a hamstring. You can do all the cardio and film study you want, but if the primary tool required to do your job is structurally compromised, you are wearing a headset and holding a clipboard on Sundays.
This throws a massive wrench into the NFC South and sends oddsmakers scrambling to adjust 's lines. Going from a veteran who knows the system to a backup quarterback is the kind of drop-off that turns a comfortable favorite into a live underdog overnight.
For now, the Buccaneers just have to survive the next three weeks and hope is a fast healer. Until we get reports of him actually throwing darts in practice, expect 's offense to look a lot more conservative while they wait for their quarterback to get his grip back.