Baker Mayfield is listed as questionable for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ trip to Carolina on Sunday, but everything on the final injury report points to his return. The quarterback practiced fully on all three days in a protective glove for his right thumb, while receiver Emeka Egbuka, right tackle Luke Goedeke and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were ruled out for the 1 p.m. EDT game at Bank of America Stadium.
The stakes are high for a 1-5 team. The Panthers lead the NFC South at 3-2, and this is the first of two straight division games for Tampa Bay, so a loss would leave the Buccaneers five games under .500 before Halloween.
Mayfield back after three weeks
Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in Week 3, and rookie Jalon Daniels made the last three starts. The glove has a pad stitched to the back of the thumb to stop it from bending backward again, and Todd Bowles said on Friday that his quarterback looked ready to go. The questionable tag is a formality more than a warning; Bowles has also said the club could carry a third quarterback as a precaution.
Baker Mayfield = man on a mission 🔒 pic.twitter.com/u2zOyDllBg
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 24, 2026
Egbuka, Goedeke and Winfield out
Egbuka missed Wednesday and Thursday and was limited on Friday. He remains in the concussion protocol and also has a foot problem, and Bowles said it would take a remarkable recovery for him to play before the report made him officially out. Goedeke (calf) followed the same pattern, sitting two days before a limited Friday, so Tampa Bay will reshuffle the right side of its line. Winfield, the leader of the secondary, was limited all week with a rib injury and will not play either.
Bowles on Emeka Egbuka, who practiced today but has concussion/foot issues: "Emeka, we'll see. He'd have to have a heck of a recovery. He's still in protocol. Right now, I'd say he's out, too." Then later said he would be listed as doubtful.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 23, 2026
An illness ran through the building early in the week. Running back Bucky Irving and cornerback Zyon McCollum missed Wednesday, and defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, punter Riley Dixon and kicker Chase McLaughlin were also listed, but all five were full participants on Friday and have no designation. Chris Godwin Jr., A’Shawn Robinson and Vita Vea were given rest days and are fine.
Carolina’s report
The Panthers ruled out linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and linebacker Thomas Incoom (calf), neither of whom practiced all week. Tackle Monroe Freeling, who missed last week’s 25-14 win at Philadelphia with a knee injury, is questionable after three full practices, as is linebacker Bam Martin-Scott (hamstring). Quarterback Bryce Young, listed with a knee issue, practiced fully and will start.
What comes next
The Buccaneers play at Carolina on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT; follow it in the Buccaneers-Panthers Game Center. Tampa Bay hosts the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. EST, and the Panthers turn around quickly for a Thursday night game at the Green Bay Packers on October 29. The full league list is on the injury report.
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