What happened: James Palmer said Thursday night that Baker Mayfield is slated to miss at least three games, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is pushing to return after two. Palmer added that a Week 5 comeback is still possible, but the Buccaneers' Thursday matchup with the Dallas Cowboys makes the timeline tougher.

Why it matters: The update sharpens the timeline around Tampa Bay's starting quarterback without changing his current out status. It would also accelerate the window for Mayfield's expected return before Tampa Bay's Week 8 home game against Atlanta, a meaningful shift if he can handle the short-week turnaround.

What to watch: The next signals to watch are Tampa Bay's practice participation reports and the club's final injury designations ahead of the Thursday game against Dallas.