Sports · American Football · 5 hrs ago
Mayfield returns as Buccaneers lead Panthers 33-6 at halftime
Baker Mayfield returned for Tampa Bay against the Carolina Panthers on Oct.
25 after missing three games with a right-thumb injury.
The Buccaneers used a custom glove to protect his throwing thumb, made with help from the Tampa Bay Rays’ equipment staff.
Tampa Bay led 33-6 at halftime, with Mayfield throwing a touchdown pass to Tez Johnson.
The Buccaneers also scored when Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards and cornerback Zyon McCollum returned a blocked extra point for two points.
The team had a 1-5 record entering the game, while Carolina led the NFC South at 3-2.
Mayfield’s return came as Tampa Bay sought to improve its position in a division where the other teams also had losing records.
Tampa Bay led Carolina 33-6 at halftime on Oct. 25, with Baker Mayfield back after missing three games with a right thumb injury.
Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Tez Johnson as Tampa Bay scored 33 first-half points, its most since 2021.
The Buccaneers scored in unusual fashion when Calijah Kancey returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown and Zyon McCollum returned a blocked extra point for two points.
McCollum also intercepted Carolina quarterback Bryce Young in the first half.
Mayfield wore a custom protective glove made with help from the Tampa Bay Rays training staff.
- Who
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. Baker Mayfield returned for Tampa Bay.
- What
- The Buccaneers led 33-6 at halftime. Mayfield returned after missing three games with a thumb injury.
- When
- Oct. 25, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Tampa Bay led after scoring 33 first-half points. Mayfield returned after recovering sufficiently from a right thumb injury to play.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mayfield missed three games with a right thumb injury.
The Rays training staff helped make a custom protective glove for Mayfield.
Mayfield returned against Carolina as Tampa Bay took a 33-6 halftime lead.
- Halftime score
- Buccaneers 33, Panthers 6
- Mayfield's absence
- Three games
- Mayfield's injury
- Right thumb on his throwing hand
- Kancey's fumble return
- 32 yards for a touchdown
- Buccaneers' first-half points
- 33, their most since 2021
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What people are saying
[It's] not restricting because it's on the backside. ... For me, just getting used to it. I don't feel the difference. It's just like me wearing a glove
I said our guy can do anything
[It's] not hard enough to restrict the thumb but enough for protection.
Posts on X
Cool backstory on Baker Mayfield's new glove -- Bucs reached out to Nike, who had made a custom protective glove for Mike Trout, but that wasn't thumb-specific. That led them to the Rays, who (in the midst of pennant push) sent an equipment staffer over to Bucs facility, met with
Here is the glove #Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will wear to protect his dislocated thumb, with thanks to the @RaysBaseball training staff.