Baker Mayfield dislocates thumb on throwing hand and winless Buccaneers await results of MRI

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Harassed all day by Minnesota's menacing pass rush, Baker Mayfield fled the pocket again — this time scrambling and weaving more 20 yards backward before launching a desperation heave that was intercepted. Even worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the quarterback's throwing hand glanced off the arm of linebacker Blake Cashman on the follow-through.

“He's got a dislocated thumb. He's going to have an MRI (Monday) just to see exactly what inside is wrong with it,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Vikings, which left the Bucs winless through three games for the first time since 2014.

While X-rays didn't show a break in the right thumb, Bowles stressed the team will not know the severity of the injury until after the MRI.

Mayfield left Raymond James Stadium without speaking to the media.

The Bucs have lost 10 of 12 games dating to last season and the two-time Pro Bowl selection, who has resurrected his career since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, has not played well since signing a three-year, $165 million contract extension less than a week before the season opener.

Tampa Bay's offense scored two touchdowns in a season-opening loss to Cincinnati and one in a loss to Cleveland. Mayfield connected with rookie Ted Hurst III for 40-yard TD in the opening quarter Sunday, but he failed to get the Bucs into the end zone again against the Vikings.

Mayfield finished 17 of 34 for 217 yards and was sacked six times. He had an 85-yard scoring pass to Chris Godwin nullified by a holding penalty in the third quarter.

The last time the Bucs started 0-3, they went on to finish 2-14 and selected Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in the following draft.

“The funny thing is we're 0-3 and we're a game out of first place. We have to get our stuff together, reach down ... do more and figure out how we can be better,” said Bowles, who entered the season on the hot seat after dropping seven of nine games following a 6-2 start in 2025.

The coach defended his decision to leave the offense on the field for the play that resulted in Mayfield's injury.

Trailing 20-16, the Bucs faced fourth-and-13 from their own 39 with just under two minutes remaining. Mayfield retreated all the way inside the Bucs 15 before launching a pass that was intercepted by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. Five plays later, Will Reichard kicked a 43-yard field goal to put Minnesota up by seven with 33 seconds left.

“At the end of the game, we needed the play,” Bowles said of the decision to go for it on fourth down. “We would've gotten the ball back with very little time. We had to make a play.”

Rookie Jalon Daniels replaced Mayfield for the final series, which ended with a fourth-down interception as time expired. If Mayfield is unable to play next Sunday, the rookie likely would make his first pro start against the Packers.

“We haven't really gotten into it yet. We'll see what the MRI says, and then we'll kind of talk amongst ourselves and kind of see,” Bowles said. “But right now, Jalon would probably go in.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaves the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field after sustaining an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) lays on the ground after sustaining an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaves the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaves the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Rhyne Howard had 26 points and five steals, Angel Reese added 13 points and 12 rebounds in her first career playoff game, and the Atlanta Dream beat the Washington Mystics 92-77 Sunday night in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Game 2 of the series is Wednesday in Washington.

The No. 5 seed Mystics committed 22 turnovers which Atlanta converted into 27 points. The Dream, who rallied from an 11-point deficit, set the franchise's playoff record with 16 steals, two shy on the WNBA mark of 18 held by Indiana from 2009.

“I think we were just playing with a lot of nerves,” Dream forward DeWanna Bonner said of Atlanta’s slow start.

“I think the second half, Karl (Smesko, Atlanta’s head coach) settled us down.”

Allisha Gray scored 22 points and Jordin Canada had 10 points and 11 assists for the fourth-seeded Dream.

Howard was 7-of-18 shooting but hit 10 of 10 from the free-throw line and Reese made just 4 of 15 from the field.

Sonia Citron led the Mystics with 25 points. Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and 14 rebounds — nine on the offensive end — and Shakira Austin added 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Canada made a layup that trimmed Atlanta's deficit to 41-36 at halftime and Gray capped a 7-0 spurt to open the third with a 3-pointer that gave the Dream their first lead since the opening minute. Bonner scored 11 of her 13 points in 18-5 run that made it 61-48 with 2:29 left until the fourth and the Mystics trailed by at least seven the rest of the way.

“In the first half we did a good job of just making everything hard for them and then in that third quarter we just let some of our discipline slip,” Citron said.

Howard made a 3-pointer that opened the scoring 22 seconds into the game but Iriafen scored four points and Georgia Amoore hit from behind the arc as Washington answered with an 8-0 run.

“This is just round one,” Smesko said. “We feel good about how we set the tone for the first game, but there is a lot more work to be done and I think everyone in our locker room is aware of that.”

The Mystics are making their first playoff appearance since 2023 and are looking to win a postseason game for the first time since 2019, when they won the WNBA championship.

“Playoffs are the biggest stage,” Iriafen said. “This is the stage we want to be on.

“It was our first time being here, not that that's an excuse, but now we know what it looks like. We have a taste for it. We'll be better prepared for our game on Wednesday.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron, left, looks to pass against Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada, right, during the first half in Game 1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) shoots against Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) during the first half in Game 1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Washington Mystics guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, left, fights for the ball with Atlanta Dream forward DeWanna Bonner, right, during the first half in Game 1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) goes up to shoot against Washington Mystics guard Georgia Amoore, right, during the first half in Game 1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and Washington Mystics center Lauren Betts, right, react during the first half in Game 1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)