Report: Baker Mayfield Will Try To Push Timeline For Return
October 2nd, 2026
Update.
This doesn’t surprise Joe one bit.
In previous stories on this here website, Joe has been clear to point out Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is expected to miss three weeks.
Joe didn’t mention three games. Why? Three weeks does not always mean three games.
And just as Joe suspected, here came a report from Amazon NFL insider James Palmer last night in the postgame show of the Steelers-Browns game. His sources at One Buc Palace told him Mayfield hasn’t written off a return two weeks from Sunday.
“Don’t be surprised if Baker tries to push this and come back after two [missed games],” Palmer said.
This Sunday the Bucs host the Packers. On Thursday night (streamed on Amazon), the Bucs will face the Cowboys in Jerry’s World. Two weeks from Sunday, the Bucs host the Steelers.
That sounds like Mayfield, doesn’t it?
Palmer also dropped a couple of other Bucs nuggets.
* Rookie Jalon Daniels, who will start in Mayfield’s absence, has brought juice to the offense. A spark. Also, the Bucs are impressed with Daniels’ arm and don’t be shocked if the Bucs try to go deep a few times against the Packers.
* Palmer also noted his source at One Buc Palace told him the Bucs’ coaching staff is “under heat” for the lousy play of the team to start the season. Joe believes they ought to be.
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:06 am
Baker is a warrior. Three weeks wouldn’t surprise me, but he has to be careful with that hand. This should drive Munch to a new tantrum level.
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:08 am
The coaching staff is “under heat”? Wow, what a scoop from that insider.
Also, they better throw deep a few times. Even if they don’t hit you can’t let a team think you’re afraid to do it
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:19 am
Oh please hurry back!
I miss you already!
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:19 am
In a perverse sort of way, this will be Bowles type of game. Expect to see more running by far than passing. Ball control, if it’s effective, will be the best way for this team to win. I want to see the rookie do well but in a 10 out of 14 attempts sort of way.
If you truly want to use Tucker, this is probably the best game to get him involved.
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:29 am
It’s interesting watching Thursday night football and hearing Kerbstreit’s take on preseason, and how sloppy much of the league is during the first few weeks of the season due to a lack of real game reps.
Taking that into consideration and the fact that my eyes weren’t deceiving me with this Browns team when we played them, where they actually played well in all phases against us, especially in the 2nd half…it’s now even more of a shame Baker got hurt. I really thought the first couple of weeks of Bucs football was an overreaction. Every Bucs outlet you turned to, it was zero rational, all emotional, sky is falling. We’ve traditionally come out winning, and yet perhaps the new pieces, new coordinators, bad luck perhaps with the 2.5 hr rain delay, hindsight the deck was a little stacked against us. We had 4 turnovers and still made it a 1 score game with the Bengals?
Now look at our losses…Browns are 3-1, Cincy is 2-1, losing a close game last week. Minnesota is 3-0. All have pretty darn good defenses. I think we had a tougher 1/4 of the season to start than what our local pundits were predicting, and so, we were all down, but my eyes tell me we were close, and I am not a Baker fan by any means, but even he was playing below my expected water mark for him.
Tall order for Daniels to come in and see if he can salvage the season for us, but this will tell us a lot about Robinson. We all hope he’s the next Coen, or any other great offensive mind, this is where he makes his money. Can he scheme our talented undrafted rookie to play safe, turnover free football, make the safe throws? If this was offensive minds like Peyton, McVay or Shanahan, handling Daniels, I’d say this game was in the bag. If the skid continues resulting in coaching turnover, and we don’t sell the entire farm, there’s a lot to work with here in Tampa.
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:30 am
Baker is definitely a tough guy – but he is more reckless when he’s cornered and playing with his hair on fire.
This will not turn out well, but whatever. 0-3 is already a dumpster fire, what’s another three or four straight losses?
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:46 am
Dude needs to chill out,
Take a break and think of how he’s going to get back to good football. Whatever he’s got going on this year looks like garbage.
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:56 am
Yeah they need to maybe sit Baker for the rest of the season to really let the hand heal up. Best case Daniels goes crazy and we find out that everyone in the NFL was wrong on him and we have a new young QB. Worst case we go 0-17, know we don’t have anything in Daniels, land the top pick that we can then use or trade out of to build our roster.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:06 am
Zoo- Zac aint him! U would of seen his talent in ATL. by now. Great offensive minds/coaches don’t make lateral moves, they become head coaches.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:07 am
Of course he will. Doesn’t want to be another Drew Bledsoe.😂🏈🤕
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:07 am
Three lost fumbles, interception, 3 straight losses, only 2 TD passes in 3 games. Baker, take your time. We can lose without your help.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Why!?🤷
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:12 am
The coaching staff has been under heat since Todd became the coach and somebody has to step up and say enough. Baker wasn’t throwing well when he was healthy but now with a hurt hand they’re ok with him rushing back hahaha oh well I would say good luck but I’m tired of Bowles
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:15 am
lol of course he is…. Say for instance Daniel’s is actually good and he wins the next 2 starts he hits the deep ball and open receivers (which idc Robinsons offense is crap but baker has had plenty of ppl open and either didn’t throw it, ran around like an idiot, or overthrew them) then we would have a lil question of do you put baker back in for that Steelers game. Baker sees Daniel’s has sometype of talent mine as well rush back because he wouldn’t want to give him a chance to come in and ask the question is he worth 150 million. Everyone knew this was gonna happen. In true Bucs fashion watch Daniel’s play well, baker rush back play like crap and the team suffer for it and we end up 6-11. With a qb looks like buns that were now stuck with that has lost 10 of his last 12 games that they stupidly paid 160 mil to. Todd and baker were supposed to be married together this year and if we sucked you get rid of both and the glazers of course caved.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:17 am
Hodad’s comment- hammer meet nail.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:22 am
Baker is an average qb. Coming back with a bad hand makes him a below average qb. And with this coaching staff from the top down. This team will be lucky to win 5 games. Go Bucs.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:23 am
Has the potential of repeating the time when Fitzmagic was out there in place of America’s QB, there was some juice to the offense and in the crowd, then they went back to Jameis and the wheels fell off.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:24 am
This little average qb just don’t know when to stop. He is not the franchise qb he never was. I’ll be glad when draft our franchise guy. But at least half the fan base Is infatuated with him and he has moxy so there’s that.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:27 am
This team reminds me of the 1991 Bucs team.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:27 am
Coach will tell him to heal. He’s been plying well, but he can play even better. And he will, Bowles will inspire him.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:30 am
Packers are tough with a great QB. Winning is hard in the NFL. Even if the Bucs lose, the worst they can be is 2 games out of first place.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:31 am
So tired of the “Baker is a warrior”..”Baker is tough”. Great, put him at safety. Let him be the gunner because being a warrior doesn’t translate to being a consistently good QB.
Hurry back Baker, we need you to help secure the number 1 overall pick.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:32 am
This is selfish. Howd that work last year baker? U lost every game while being tough. Then we blame injuries in hindsight. No absolutely not. The staff must not allow him back until hes healed or this will be an issue every game all year.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
@ Fan of da Bucs
Hey buddy.
How are you?
I’m glad we made that bet…
7-10 or worse amigo.
I take Visa, Master Card, Discover, Cash, Debit or you can mow my 2 acres for a year.
Take your pick bro-ski!
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:40 am
Baker plays fullback in order to over-compensate for being horrible at throwing the ball further than 10 yards…
At least he has lots of “grit and moxy”.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:42 am
Yes, lets rush back from a thumb injury on your throwing hand and hope for the best, because we’ll miss that laser-guided precision and his proficiency from the pocket that has won us so many games.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:55 am
Losses to 3-0 Vikings, 3-1 Browns, 2-1 Bengals. Go figure!
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:56 am
Hey, Baker has won 2 of his last 12 starts. That’s pretty good, it’s one more than 1 and two more than 0.
October 2nd, 2026 at 8:57 am
I saw Terry Bradshaw a few weeks,ago and he,said back in the day it was,considered a virtue to play through injuries. He had,a long pause and,what was unsaid is not any more. You see it on this board with Baker being criticized by munch and others for not sitting down. Then young Quarterbacks like Caleb, Jalen, and others sitting down for every little thing. That was not the case in the 70’s
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:00 am
The short comments have to stop when there are at least two QBs 3 inches shorter.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:01 am
Didn’t we see this movie LAST YEAR? Sit his a$$
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:03 am
When baker came,3 years ago outside fanz flooded in and Munch and others,attacked them. Now it s,an anti baker board.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:04 am
Baker saw Daniel’s run the starting offense for 2 days at practice and said “aww hell nah I gotta rush back” Dislocated thumb on throwing hand! One that was so painful he was screaming in pain on the broadcast. 3 weeks…. I’m sure hell be pinpoint accurate with a great grip as soon as he comes back in 2 games. Doubtful he hits a persons helmet either or lands on it wrong… no way bakers not none for landing awkwardly holding the ball to long or hitting someone’s helmet while throwing it… or scrambling then fumbling it after being hit…we haven’t seen that happen the 4 years he’s been here at all…… that will only add to the grit and moxy legend of bake.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:04 am
Please don’t
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:05 am
You stole the money man, rest up, the season is lost, get healthy for a competent coach and GM in 27
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:09 am
On the hot seat? They should be tied to a stake in the middle of a pyre.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:09 am
@ markey
“Now it s,an anti baker board.”
Bud – do you know why it has become the “anti Baker board”?
Because “Baker” sucks arse!
That’s it!
It’s not a conspiracy buddy.
He truly sucks arse…
So now what?
The idiot GM just signed him to a 3 year mostly fully guaranteed contract.
We are ALL screwed for at least the next two seasons.
FIRE JASON LICHT before you fire the Toad…
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:15 am
Our GM should move to China and become a stunt double for President Xi…
We could have had – Tom Brady, Spytek and Liam Coen running the show instead of these doofus arse morons.
It’s a Buc’s life amigos!!!
Pathetic.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:17 am
BTW – the “Toads” defense is ranked #6 in the NFL currently…
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:25 am
What’s the rush…BM is flush ( with a new contract )?!
The team will likely be winless whether he comes back in 3 weeks or 3 months.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:27 am
Just wait folks. We’re going to get boat races by one of the worst teams in football.
It won’t even be close. Double digit loss coming.
Bet heavy on the Packers to win.
Bowles knows losing.
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:46 am
It might depend on how well the kid QB is playing. If Daniels looks decent, someone of authority (not named Bowles) might force BM6 to sit. We’ll get a glimpse of the future on Sunday!
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
Knucknbuc Says:
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:04 am
Baker saw Daniel’s run the starting offense for 2 days at practice and said “aww hell nah I gotta rush back”
BINGO!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
Not surprised one bit….
baker is selfish…in his mind, screw whats best for the team, he is the team lol…
I really think JD10 will play well and Bucs win Sunday…the team will rally around him and we’ll finally see that “juice” baker and bowles have been talking about
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
Hes a trooper!
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:00 am
It’s crucial we win this weekend! We need LaFluer to be fired before Todd so we can pick up a guy that is an actual coach,,, I believe what’s going on w Pack isn’t his fault,,, or Give Daibol another shot or possible Webb (OC Denver),, Glazers have to start thinking of who will be the next coach and hopefully he is an Offensive Coach
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:03 am
How about we have responsible coaching and be grown ups and sit his tush down until he’s ready… He’s The Franchise now in a what’s pretty much lost season. No need to rush it back. I know that’s not the right mindset and whatnot, but we should not have him come back until he’s ready.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:19 am
Who’s baker?
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:20 am
Scott Says:
October 2nd, 2026 at 7:46 am
Dude needs to chill out,
Take a break and think of how he’s going to get back to good football. Whatever he’s got going on this year looks like garbage.
100%
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:40 am
Baker is known to take that nicotine stuff on the side lines and some players use salts as well. If one over stimulates their brain they will have a performance drop. I wonder if that is part of why Baker has “happy feet.” He is too twitchy and missing easier throws to wide open guys and over throwing the ball.
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:53 am
The guy is trash at 100%
When he’s less than 100% , he’s garbage
October 2nd, 2026 at 10:53 am
This season is all but lost, no need to rush back Baker. You are just going to get killed by the horrible coaching and pathetic Oline and WRs. Who thought the WRs were going to be the weakest link? Other than CG, the whole group is pathetic. All a product of Jason’s hype machine.