Baker Mayfield Held Back While Lamar Jackson and Caleb Williams Inch Closer to Returns
Mike Garafolo reports Baker Mayfield will likely sit one more week in favor of Jalon Daniels, while Lamar Jackson and Caleb Williams are nearing returns. The Bears will also be without suspended Montez Sweat.
HotTakes Editorial TeamUpdated 1 min read
Finding live odds…
The NFL injury report is currently reading like a triage unit for franchise quarterbacks, but we finally have some clarity on who is actually suiting up this weekend.
According to Mike Garafolo on Good Morning Football, Baker Mayfield is practically begging to get back on the field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the medical staff is apparently holding the line, meaning Jalon Daniels is the heavy favorite to get one more start.
"Baker Mayfield badly wants to return for the Buccaneers but odds are it’ll be Jalon Daniels at QB for one more week."
Daniels just helped steer the ship to a 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys, so there is zero reason for Tampa Bay to rush Baker back. Letting your starter heal while the backup secures a road win is the NFL equivalent of finding a twenty-dollar bill in your winter coat.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson and Caleb Williams are both officially inching back for the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, respectively. That is exactly the kind of vague coach-speak that drives betting markets insane, but it beats being ruled out on a Wednesday.
Baltimore survived without Lamar in a 30-23 shootout win over the Atlanta Falcons, proving their system can hold up for a week. But you do not want to test that theory twice if you can avoid it.
Chicago, on the other hand, desperately needs Williams back under center. They just got absolutely dismantled by the Green Bay Packers 31-7, and the vibes are currently in the basement.
To make matters worse, Garafolo noted the Bears will be without star edge rusher Montez Sweat, who is serving a suspension. Trying to fix a broken offense while your best defensive player is forced to watch from his couch is a recipe for a very long Sunday.
Keep an eye on the Friday practice reports for Lamar and Caleb. If they log full sessions, the lines on those games will shift immediately. As for Tampa Bay, they can comfortably ride the Jalon Daniels experience for one more week before handing the keys back to Baker.
Key stats
Key statsBucs beat Cowboys 24-16
Ravens beat Falcons 30-23
Bears lost to Packers 31-7
What's next
Friday practice reports will dictate the final status and betting lines for Lamar Jackson and Caleb Williams, while Jalon Daniels is expected to start one more game for Tampa Bay.
