Monday, September 28, 2026 300 stories · 2676 outlet reports compared

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield injures thumb during loss to Vikings

Baker Mayfield left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter after appearing to dislocate the thumb on his throwing hand, according to multiple outlets.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 28, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 Baker Mayfield was injured in the fourth quarter of the Buccaneers' loss to the Vikings.
2 The injury involved the thumb on his throwing (right) hand, occurring during or after a fourth-down/fourth-quarter interception.
3 X-rays did not show a break, but the team awaited MRI results to determine severity, according to Yahoo Sports.
4 Rookie Jalon Daniels took over at quarterback, according to Independent Journal Review.
5 Fox Sports reported Mayfield is expected to miss time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield exited Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter after suffering an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand, according to Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, Fox News and Independent Journal Review.

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The injury occurred as Mayfield was hit while throwing a fourth-quarter interception. Fox News reported he left screaming in pain after his thumb bent, while CBS Sports said he was in serious pain following the interception.

X-rays did not show a break, according to Yahoo Sports, though the team said the severity of the injury would not be known until after an MRI. Mayfield left Raymond James Stadium without speaking to the media, per Yahoo Sports.

Independent Journal Review reported that rookie Jalon Daniels took over at quarterback and that Tampa Bay had not provided an update on Mayfield's condition. Fox Sports reported Mayfield is expected to miss time.

How each side covered it

Center

2 outlets
  • Yahoo Sports reported Mayfield was harassed by Minnesota's pass rush before throwing an interception that led to the injury.
  • Yahoo Sports said X-rays did not show a break, but the team awaited MRI results.
  • CBS Sports reported Mayfield was in serious pain following the interception.

“Baker Mayfield dislocates thumb on throwing hand and winless Buccaneers await results of MRI” — Yahoo Sports

Right

3 outlets
  • Fox Sports reported Mayfield is expected to miss time due to the dislocated thumb.
  • Fox News described Mayfield as screaming in pain after his thumb bent during the interception.
  • Independent Journal Review reported rookie Jalon Daniels took over and that no update on Mayfield's condition had been provided.

“Baker Mayfield leaves game after writhing in pain on turf in Tampa Bay when thumb on throwing hand injured” — Fox News

Questions readers ask

What happened to Baker Mayfield?

Baker Mayfield, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter after injuring the thumb on his throwing hand while being hit during an interception.

How serious is Baker Mayfield's injury?

X-rays did not show a break, according to Yahoo Sports, but the Buccaneers said they would not know the full severity of the injury until after an MRI. Fox Sports reported Mayfield is expected to miss time.

Who replaced Baker Mayfield in the game?

Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels took over for the Buccaneers, according to Independent Journal Review.

What did left-, center-, and right-leaning outlets focus on?

No left-leaning coverage was supplied. Center outlets emphasized the Vikings' pass rush and the team's uncertainty pending an MRI, while right-leaning outlets focused more on the visible pain Mayfield displayed and his expected absence.

Sources · 5 outlet reports

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