Baker Mayfield is set to return to practice but the Bucs will prepare as if Jalon Daniels starts at Carolina

Baker Mayfield is getting closer. The Buccaneers are not counting on him just yet.

Mayfield will return to practice this week for the first time since he dislocated his right thumb in late September, coach Todd Bowles said Monday. Tampa Bay will still prepare as if undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

"He's supposed to practice Wednesday," Bowles said. "We're gonna take a good look at him there and then we'll kind of evaluate him during the week and see how he does."

It's all about the grip

Mayfield was always expected to miss at least three weeks. He needed stitches because of the way the thumb bent but he did not have surgery. An MRI showed no small fractures and no tendon or ligament damage.

The key now is how well he can grip and secure the football over a full game, according to reports. Pain is not an issue.

Bowles said planning for Daniels is the only smart move. "They'll both be in the meetings and we'll see how the week goes before we decide who it is," he said.

Daniels' ups and downs

Daniels gave the Bucs their first win of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. On Sunday he threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in a 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tampa Bay could not get its running game going and Daniels threw 43 passes. After Aaron Rodgers hit Germie Bernard for a 6-yard touchdown with 3:20 left in overtime, Daniels was sacked on fourth down by a blitzing Jalen Ramsey to end the game.

Mayfield had struggled before he got hurt. In those three games he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. He also threw two interceptions, lost three fumbles and was sacked 13 times.

The division race starts now

Sunday's trip to Carolina is the Bucs' first division game of the season. The Panthers are coming off a 25-14 win in Philadelphia.

Last season the Bucs, Panthers and Atlanta Falcons all finished 8-9 and tied atop the NFC South. Carolina won the division on a tiebreaker.