Baker Mayfield is preparing to return to action for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, and he will do so with some unconventional equipment. After missing three games with a dislocated right thumb, Mayfield is expected to wear a custom glove designed to protect the injured joint when Tampa Bay faces the Carolina Panthers.
Rays help create unique solution for Mayfield
The custom glove came together with help from an unlikely source: the Tampa Bay Rays. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Rays home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond helped create the equipment after working with Mayfield, the Buccaneers’ trainers and equipment staff.
Bond took a receiver’s glove and removed the thumb before adding a support designed to protect Mayfield’s injured joint. The group essentially created a customized piece of equipment specifically for the Buccaneers quarterback. Two versions were made, including one with hard plastic and another using a softer cast.
The purpose of the glove is to prevent Mayfield’s thumb from bending backward while still allowing him enough flexibility to grip and throw the football.
“It’s not restricting because it’s on the backside,” Mayfield said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He also explained that he has been working to get comfortable with the glove and adjust his throwing mechanics.
Rays home clubhouse/equipment manager Tyler Wall described the process as essentially “Frankensteining” a glove together. The goal was to create enough protection without restricting the thumb’s movement.
Mayfield believes he is ready to return
Mayfield suffered the dislocated thumb during Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to Minnesota and has missed the Buccaneers’ last three games. Rookie Jalon Daniels has started during his absence, with Tampa Bay going 1-2 in those contests.
Mayfield returned to full practice Wednesday, an important step toward potentially returning against Carolina. He subsequently said Thursday that his thumb had reached a point where it was “strong enough to be able to play.”
The biggest adjustment will be throwing with the glove. Mayfield acknowledged that he has had to change his release points and cannot grip the football quite as tightly because the ball can stick to the glove. However, he said he feels comfortable with it after getting additional practice reps.
There is also a concern about taking snaps under center, where the football could make contact with the injured thumb. Mayfield indicated that was a bigger concern than simply throwing the football.
For a Buccaneers team sitting at 1-5, getting Mayfield back would provide a significant boost. The custom glove may look unusual, but it could be the key piece allowing Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback to return to the field while protecting his injured thumb.
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