The Carolina Panthers may be getting a second straight game against a backup quarterback when they line up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.
That possibility comes after Carolina’s 25-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, a game in which the Eagles had to turn to Tanner McKee because Jalen Hurts was unavailable. Tampa Bay now heads into the division matchup with Baker Mayfield dealing with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand, and the Bucs could be forced to go with rookie Jalon Daniels instead.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles gave a little clarity on Monday, while Panthers head coach Dave Canales also weighed in this afternoon. Canales knows Mayfield well from their time together in Tampa during the 2023 season, and he made clear what he expects if the quarterback has any chance to suit up.
"Knowing Baker-if he's got a chance to play, he's gonna play," Canales told reporters. "He is as tough as they come. Played through a bunch of stuff in my year that I was with him, was able to function well with all those things.
"So I'm expecting it to be Baker. We also have to prepare if it's Jalon.
We know that. A little different than last week.
Hopefully, it's not like a mid-week type of thing. We'll know it's either one or the other.
So we have to be ready for what their offense looks like when Baker's out there, we have to be ready for what they've been doing the last couple of weeks."
If Daniels gets the nod, it would be his fourth start in a row for Tampa Bay. In his last three games, he has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 501 yards, with three touchdowns and four interceptions. The Buccaneers went 1-2 over that stretch.
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Panthers Could Catch Tampa In A Very Different Week 7 Setup
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For Carolina, the uncertainty matters as much as the result in Pittsburgh. Rookie Jalon Daniels has handled the offense in Mayfields absence and would keep the job if Mayfield is not ready, leaving the Panthers to prepare for two possible looks from a division rival. It is the kind of midweek quarterback watch that can shape the whole tone of a matchup before either team even gets to Sunday. [Read more 🡒]