The Carolina Panthers will probably face Baker Mayfield in Week 7. And while getting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback back would normally be bad news, his latest injury update suggests they might actually benefit from his return.
Mayfield has missed the Buccaneers' last three games after dislocating his right thumb against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. However, the veteran quarterback returned to practice and should be back under center against his old team.
And he always has some extra motivation against the Panthers.
Baker Mayfield's return gives Carolina Panthers an added incentive in Week 7
That should give Tampa Bay's struggling offense a much-needed boost, but there's one detail about Mayfield's recovery that could work in the Panthers' favor.
He's still adjusting to throwing with an injured thumb, and the changes Mayfield's had to make to his throwing mechanics could give Carolina something to exploit.
According to the Buccaneers' official injury report, Mayfield was a full participant in practice throughout the week while wearing a special glove on his throwing hand. He was listed as questionable, but he's expected to go.
The glove provides additional support for the injured ligament, preventing his thumb from bending backward. The glove has also forced him to change his release points because of how it affects his grip on the football.
That's a pretty significant adjustment for a quarterback preparing to play his first game in nearly a month.
Mayfield has spent years developing his throwing mechanics, and now he has to change something as fundamental as how he releases the football.
Baker Mayfield's injured thumb is something Carolina Panthers can exploit
Sure, he's an experienced quarterback who has played through injuries before, but adjusting to a different grip in practice is one thing. Doing it against an NFL defense trying to pressure you is another.
Still, the Panthers should watch how comfortably Mayfield throws the football, especially when he's forced to move outside the pocket or make difficult throws under pressure.
And with Tampa Bay already allowing 13 sacks in Mayfield's three starts this season, Carolina has reason to test just how comfortable that injured thumb really is.
The Panthers also have something working in their favor that most teams facing Mayfield don't. Head coach Dave Canales knows him extremely well.
Canales spent the 2023 season as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator. He helped Mayfield revive his career after a difficult stretch that included a brief stint with Carolina in 2022.
That familiarity could prove useful as the Panthers prepare for their NFC South matchup, especially with Mayfield returning from an injury that could affect how he operates in the pocket.
The Panthers shouldn't underestimate him, especially given his history of playing through injuries. But if Mayfield still has to adjust his throwing motion, Carolina needs to make him uncomfortable early and see how much that thumb can handle.
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