TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield remained sidelined Wednesday as he prepared to test his grip and passing ability after dislocating the thumb on his right throwing hand three weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings.

But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback hasn’t relinquished his hold on either his job or his team’s teetering season.

With the 1-4 Bucs planning to start rookie Jalon Daniels against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, Mayfield has embraced the role of mentor, huddling with the rookie in meetings and on the sideline between series to offer pointers on protections and coverage while awaiting his own chance to return.

Coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield was scheduled to throw Wednesday afternoon but had no update on his condition or chances of playing on Sunday.

“Not at this time. Nothing has changed,” Bowles said following practice. “I mean, he’s getting better. We’ll see how much he throws and how he looks.”

In fact, Bowles wasn’t sure Wednesday whether Mayfield would try to practice this week. Originally, the Bucs said Mayfield would miss a minimum of three games. Tampa Bay opens NFC South play Oct. 25 at Carolina.

“I can’t answer that until he throws the ball, where he’s at,” Bowles said. “If he’s not 100%, he doesn’t need to play.”

Of course, Mayfield has demonstrated a high threshold for pain.

Despite appearing on the injury report last season for a sprained MCL and PCL in his knee, a bone bruise in the same knee, a right biceps contusion, a foot/toe injury, an oblique strain, a left shoulder AC joint sprain and a right shoulder injury, Mayfield had not missed a game in more than three years until he took the hit on his throwing hand Sept. 27 against the Vikings.

Daniels would be making his third straight start, having lost to the Packers 17-14 before upsetting the Cowboys 24-16 in Dallas four days later on “Thursday Night Football.” He looked more comfortable in his second start, completing 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

What was better the second time around?

“Getting in and out of the huddle and taking command of the offense,” Bowles said. “(Offensive coordinator) Zac (Robinson) did a good job getting him the plays, and he did a good job commanding the huddle, getting out on time (and) seeing everything, which slowed the game down for him.”

For his part, Daniels said he just felt more calm in the pocket and saw the field better than his first outing.

“I would say composure within the pocket,” he said. “Trusting my eyes, trusting what the defense was giving me and taking No. 1 or No. 2 in the progression. And if you see a hole and it’s a gaping, wide-open hole, probably take it, because at the end of the day you’re trying to move the sticks.”

All the while, the 31-year-old Mayfield, idle for the first time since 2022, has been by Daniels’ side, on the practice field and in meeting rooms.

“Asking Baker whatever questions that I have as far as operation, as far as how he does a certain cadence, how he comes into the huddle and is able to call a different play and how he is viewing a game,” Daniels said. “Obviously, when we’re going through film and having our protection meetings at the beginning of the week, I’m asking him those questions as far as what he sees.

“The more I’m able to try to pick his brain apart and be able to learn more from him, the more it’s helping me get prepared for the game, but also the more it’s helping me for any opportunities that come down the line as well.”

Of course, game day is when Mayfield has had the most impact. During timeouts and between series Thursday, Mayfield was seen stepping onto the field with Daniels and coaching him up about everything from reading coverage to audibles.

“Certain situations it’s about seeing if I’m able to switch up the cadence to be able to make the defense jump offsides,” Daniels said. “Sometimes it could be about my eyes, trying to move a defense one way to be able to open somebody else up. Or it could just be something as simple as whenever we get into this situation, if they end up running this coverage, be aware of that. If they alert it to something else and try to be able to get to another play.

“(There) are a whole lot of things that Baker has been able to stay in steady communication with me about, and I appreciate that.”

Note

Some Bucs players showed improvement Wednesday. Linebacker SirVocea Dennis (ankle/foot) and cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) practiced on a limited basis. Cornerback Ayden Garnes (ankle) and running back Sean Tucker (quad) were working with trainers.

Up next

vs. Steelers, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Raymond James Stadium.

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