The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-3 after Minnesota defeated them 23-16 at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. It is the team’s first 0-3 start since 2014, and quarterback Baker Mayfield injured the thumb on his throwing hand near the end of the game.
Mayfield will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. Coach Todd Bowles said X-rays did not show a fracture and identified undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels as the likely replacement while Mayfield is unavailable.
The game included 17 punts and 20 first downs, with Tampa Bay recording 243 net yards and Minnesota finishing with 230. The Vikings took an early lead when Myles Price returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. Tampa Bay later tied the score on Mayfield’s 40-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Ted Hurst and Chase McLaughlin’s 28-yard field goal.
Minnesota regained the advantage before halftime on Kyler Murray’s 41-yard touchdown throw to Jordan Addison. McLaughlin added two more field goals, including one after defensive lineman A’Shaun Robinson intercepted a pass deflected by Vita Vea, and another from 54 yards. Tampa Bay also had a potential 85-yard touchdown by Chris Godwin wiped out by a penalty.
The Buccaneers remained within one point early in the fourth quarter but settled for the long field goal instead of attempting a fourth-down conversion. Minnesota answered with two Will Reichard field goals, the last coming with 33 seconds left. Daniels then made his NFL debut, running for 9 yards before throwing two incompletions and an interception on a final Hail Mary attempt.
