Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) will return to practice on Wednesday, but that the team will plan as if rookie Jalon Daniels will start again in Week 7 on the road against the division-rival Carolina Panthers, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Daniels, an undrafted free agent from Kansas, has now played in four games (three starts) in 2026 in his first year in the NFL, going 60-for-98 passing (61.2%) for 501 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 20 carries for 126 yards on the ground. He has yet to throw for over 200 yards in any of his three starts or have multiple touchdown passes, and if Mayfield does enough in practice this week, he could return to backup duties on Sunday against Carolina. If Daniels makes a fourth straight start this weekend, he will continue to be a low-upside, short-term QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) is supposed to practice on Wednesday, and the team will evaluate him this week to see what he is able to do, according to Brianna Dix of the team's official website. Bowles also added that for now, the Bucs will plan as if rookie Jalon Daniels will make another start. The 31-year-old Mayfield has not played since suffering a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and he could be on the verge of missing a fourth straight game this weekend against the division-rival Carolina Panthers if he cannot do enough in practice this week. However, the fact that Mayfield is expected to return to the practice field this week is a sign of progress. The two-time Pro Bowler got off to an 0-3 start while throwing for 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions before his thumb injury. When Mayfield returns, he will be a midrange QB2 in superflex formats. After back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in his first two years with the team, Mayfield took a step back last year while battling nagging injuries.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka caught seven of his 16 targets for 48 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 6 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. Egbuka was heavily involved as the Bucs tried to mount a late comeback. His seven catches and one touchdown are great from a fantasy perspective, but his sub-50% catch rate, his 6.9 yards per catch, and his 3.0 yards per target all represent areas for potential improvement. His short-term outlook is still up in the air, as we don't know whether Egbuka will be catching passes from Jalon Daniels or Baker Mayfield (thumb) in Week 7. Daniels can keep Egbuka in the high-end WR3 range, while a downfield passer like Mayfield could put him in WR2 territory.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving rushed for 46 yards on 19 carries during Sunday's Week 6 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also caught two of his three targets for three receiving yards. Irving saw large volume once again, but he was highly inefficient with just 2.4 rushing yards per carry. The 24-year-old now has fewer than 8.0 fantasy points in three of his last four games, giving him a low floor going forward. The biggest factor for Irving has been quarterback play; while Jalon Daniels has looked fine, it's easy for defenses to predict when the Bucs are going to run, which makes it difficult for Irving to break off big plays. Baker Mayfield (thumb) has a chance to return in Week 7, which would help Irving get back into the high-end RB2 tier against the Carolina Panthers. If Daniels remains the starter, however, Irving would fall to the fringe top-24 range.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Tucker was listed as questionable after missing Wednesday's practice and participating on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. The Buccaneers elevated Josh Williams from the practice squad on Saturday to provide additional backfield depth behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell. Tucker has recorded eight carries for 28 yards and one touchdown this season, including five attempts for 18 yards against Dallas in Week 5. His absence removes a potential short-yardage option from Tampa Bay's rotation, although his limited workload suggests the fantasy impact should be modest. Irving remains the team's primary rushing option, while Gainwell could pick up some additional work against Pittsburgh.

There is "optimism" that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) will be able to make his return to the field in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, per Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Mayfield is set to miss his third consecutive game in Week 6 after dislocating his right thumb in Week 3, but it appears he's getting closer to being healthy enough to play. Across three games before getting injured, the 31-year-old completed 63.5% of his pass attempts for 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In his absence, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels has stepped in as the starter under center in Tampa Bay. While Daniels has performed admirably so far, Mayfield's return should boost the fantasy outlook for Tampa Bay's top offensive weapons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was once again fairly quiet during last week's win over the Dallas Cowboys. He hauled in three of his four targets for 25 yards in the victory. Otton hasn't given fantasy managers much to cheer about this season. The 27-year-old has been held to under 40 receiving yards in every game besides one. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much to change with backup quarterback Jalon Daniels remaining under center for the Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Otton doesn't have a very high ceiling and cannot be trusted as anything more than a TE2 right now.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III was beginning to gain momentum before posting a dud during last Thursday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Hurst wasn't even targeted after seeing three or more targets during the first four games of the season. The rookie wideout should continue to start for now, but that doesn't mean he'll be a viable fantasy option. The 22-year-old is a potential stash option in deep leagues or dynasty formats, but he's too risky to insert into starting lineups for the Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hopefully, his fantasy value will rise once Baker Mayfield (thumb) is back under center.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. hasn't been much of a fantasy option all season long. Heading into Week 6, Godwin has recorded 19 receptions for 179 yards with zero touchdowns. His value is unlikely to rise with backup quarterback Jalon Daniels under center for at least one more game. The two of them connected for three receptions and 37 yards during last week's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Godwin has seen four or fewer targets in every game but one this season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much from Godwin until Baker Mayfield (thumb) is back in the mix. Godwin should be viewed as a flex option in deep leagues ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has hopefully turned a corner after a decent performance against the Dallas Cowboys last week. Egbuka hauled in a season-high six receptions for 38 yards during the Thursday Night victory over Dallas. Egbuka also rushed the ball once for a 14-yard touchdown. It seems like Egbuka is building chemistry with backup quarterback Jalon Daniels. The 24-year-old has seen nine targets in two of his last three games. Fantasy managers can be hopeful that Egbuka sees heavy usage once again versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. Fantasy managers should consider Egbuka a WR3 for that one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell continues to make a minimal impact on offense. Last week, Gainwell rushed the ball four times for 18 yards, while hauling in three receptions for 10 additional yards through the air during the win over the Dallas Cowboys. The expectation is that Gainwell is only going to see a handful of carries each week, with Bucky Irving having a lot of success as the lead back. He'll look to find more success against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 6. Gainwell has given fantasy managers no reason to trust him thus far. He'll be a desperation flex option in deep leagues for this weekend.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is coming off his best performance of the season. Irving rushed for a season-high 165 yards on 21 attempts with a touchdown during last week's win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also hauled in two of his three targets for 10 yards and another score. The Bucs have been leaning on Irving lately with quarterback Jalon Daniels under center during the last two games. The expectation is that Irving will continue seeing a heavy workload during the upcoming Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A defensive unit that has allowed the 13th-fewest rushing yards in the league. Irving should be considered a borderline RB1 for this upcoming home matchup against the Steelers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels will remain the starter for at least one more week. The Bucs were hopeful that Baker Mayfield (thumb) would be ready, but he'll miss at least one more game because of his dislocated thumb. Daniels was surprisingly efficient during last Thursday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 19-of-25 passing attempts for 189 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions. He also rushed the ball seven times for an additional 23 yards on the ground. The Bucs will likely continue to use a run-first offense, which will limit Daniels' overall upside. Fantasy managers should consider Daniels a low-end QB2 in superflex formats for the Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) was not spotted at Thursday's practice, according to Pewter Report, another concerning development for his potential Week 6 return against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mayfield has missed two consecutive games since dislocating his right thumb during Tampa Bay's Week 3 loss to Minnesota and was also listed as a non-participant Wednesday. Head coach Todd Bowles previously indicated that rookie Jalon Daniels was likely to make his third straight start this weekend, with Mayfield's ability to grip and throw the football remaining an important hurdle in his recovery. The 31-year-old completed 61 of 96 passes for 615 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering the injury. Daniels has shown improvement since taking over, completing 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in last Thursday's 24-16 victory over Dallas. Mayfield has not officially been ruled out against Pittsburgh, but another absence from practice leaves Daniels positioned to remain under center.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. returned to practice Thursday after receiving a rest day Wednesday, according to Pewter Report. The veteran was officially listed as a non-participant for rest rather than an injury, so there is no indication that his availability for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is in jeopardy. Godwin caught all three of his targets for 37 yards in last Thursday's 24-16 victory over Dallas, bringing his season totals to 19 receptions for 179 yards without a touchdown through five games. His involvement has been surprisingly limited, particularly with Jalen McMillan (knee) on injured reserve and Mike Evans no longer on the roster. Emeka Egbuka has received more opportunities in the passing game, while tight end Cade Otton has also been heavily involved. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels has started the past two games with Baker Mayfield (thumb) sidelined, adding another variable to Godwin's fantasy outlook. Godwin appears on track to play Sunday, but his production and target volume remain concerns for fantasy managers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (quadriceps) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's session, according to Pewter Report. Tucker's participation level has not yet been confirmed, but his return is an encouraging development ahead of Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old has handled just eight carries for 28 yards and one touchdown across four appearances this season, although his opportunities have increased recently. He scored on a two-yard run against Green Bay in Week 4 before recording five carries for 18 yards in last Thursday's victory over Dallas. Head coach Todd Bowles has discussed finding ways to involve all three running backs, with Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell also factoring into the rotation. Irving is coming off a dominant performance against Dallas, rushing for 165 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Tucker could continue receiving occasional short-yardage opportunities, but his limited overall workload makes him a difficult fantasy option to trust. His status for Sunday should become clearer when Tampa Bay releases its updated injury report.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has posted inconsistent and underwhelming results this season, but his solid volume in Week 5 could suggest that he's back on track going forward. Egbuka finished last Thursday's contest with nine targets, six catches, and 38 receiving yards, and he also boosted his fantasy value with a 14-yard touchdown run. The 24-year-old is averaging a modest 4.2 catches per game while ranking as a high-end WR3, but that fantasy stock could ascend into the WR2 territory if he continues to produce at a similar level as last week. The only real concern right now is the quarterback play of backup Jayden Daniels. While Daniels did target Egbuka nine times last week, the second-year receiver averaged just 4.2 yards per target, indicating that there isn't much of a connection between quarterback and receiver deep downfield. That could change when Baker Mayfield (thumb) returns to action, but in the meantime, we'd still roll out Egbuka as a high-end WR3 in fantasy football.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has full control over the No. 1 role in the backfield through the first five weeks of the season, and we don't expect that to change anytime soon. Irving is coming off his best game of the year, in which he totaled 175 scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns. Even with Kenny Gainwell, Sean Tucker, and Jalon Daniel all pushing to earn rushing attempts, Irving has shown no signs of relinquishing his lead-back role. After all, he had 23 touches last week. After missing seven games last year and finishing as the RB34 in PPR leagues, it certainly appears as though Irving is in the midst of a significant bounce-back campaign. We'll look for him to keep up that momentum heading into Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the 13th-fewest rushing yards per game in 2026.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has failed to capitalize on the opportunities many expected following Mike Evans' offseason departure, and his fantasy value continues to slide. Godwin caught all three of his targets for 37 yards in Thursday's 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, marking his fourth game this season with four or fewer targets. Through five contests, the veteran has recorded just 19 receptions for 179 yards without a touchdown on 21 targets, averaging only 35.8 receiving yards per game. Emeka Egbuka (33 targets) and Cade Otton (27) have both received more opportunities, even with Jalen McMillan (knee) sidelined on injured reserve. Tampa Bay's quarterback situation hasn't helped matters, as rookie Jalon Daniels has started the past two games while Baker Mayfield (thumb) recovers. Godwin also wasn't spotted at Wednesday's practice, although the reason for his absence remains unclear. His impressive catch rate means little for fantasy purposes without a more consistent workload. Godwin is becoming difficult to justify in 10-team leagues and can be dropped in some 12-team formats if better options are available. Managers in deeper PPR leagues can afford additional patience, but there is little evidence that a substantial increase in targets is coming.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday that the team plans on starting rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels again in Week 6 against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Scott Smith of the team's official website. Daniels is not officially locked in as the starter this weekend, but all signs are pointing towards him making a third straight start as Baker Mayfield continues to recover from a dislocated right thumb. For what it is worth, Mayfield is not practicing on Wednesday. Daniels, a 23-year-old undrafted free agent from Kansas, has handled himself quite well in his first two career starts under center against the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He has gone 38-for-52 passing for 337 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniels led the Bucs to an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday night and will try to make it two straight wins this Sunday against the Steelers if he gets the nod to start this weekend. If Daniels makes another start, he will continue to be in play as a short-term low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues.