Baker Mayfield expected back as the Bucs' starter at Carolina after three weeks out with a dislocated thumb

Baker Mayfield is on track to be back under center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.

Barring any setbacks, the expectation is that the quarterback will start Sunday at the Carolina Panthers after missing three games with a dislocated right thumb he suffered in Week 3. Mayfield was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the injury, Mayfield said he felt "very confident" in his grip. He said there was some tendon and ligament damage but no surgery. He added that the thumb has "gotten to a place where it's strong enough to be able to play" and "feels good."

A glove built for the job

Mayfield has been throwing with a specially made glove that has a pad on the back of the thumb to keep it from bending backward again. The glove is reinforced with metal. The team's equipment staff asked the Tampa Bay Rays for help because the baseball club had done something similar for one of its players.

"When you're throwing with a glove, you got to get used to it," Mayfield said. "Just changing your release points. Can't grip it as hard because it'll stick to the glove." After the first few days, he said, "It's just like me wearing a glove."

His biggest worry was taking snaps from center Graham Barton. "It feels fine gripping it, throwing it," Mayfield said. "It's just that the impact stuff, that was really what my concern was." He said it has felt great so far.

Proud of his backup

Mayfield had hoped to return last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers but said he was not 100% and that Jalon Daniels gave the team a better chance to win. He spent his time away helping Daniels in meetings and on the sideline.

"I'm really proud of Jalon," Mayfield said. "Thrown into the fire there, three starts in a row, got a win on the second one in primetime, which was huge."

A steep climb

Tampa Bay is 1-5 and opens division play against a Carolina team that sits at 3-2 and is the only NFC South club with a winning record. "Got to take it one game at a time," Mayfield said. "Our opponent this week is the one leading the division." He said the Bucs have to take care of business this week.