The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have endured a difficult start to the season, entering their Week 5 road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys with an 0-4 record.
The Buccaneers will be looking to secure its first win of the campaign in Thursday’s contest, but the team will once again have to manage without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is set to miss his second consecutive game.
The 31-year-old suffered the injury during Tampa Bay’s Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Should his rehabilitation extend beyond the expected timeline, Mayfield could be forced to sit out until Week 9 or even longer. Following that game, head coach Todd Bowles indicated that the quarterback was expected to miss at least three weeks while recovering. With the veteran yet to resume practicing, his unavailability for the Cowboys game was widely anticipated. Mayfield’s absence represents a significant setback for a team already struggling to find its footing. Tampa Bay will need Daniels to deliver a more consistent performance if it hopes to get its season back on track against the Cowboys. Still, it remains unclear whether the quarterback will be ready for next week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter subsequently reported on Sunday that Mayfield’s recovery could take anywhere from three to six weeks.
