The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for two quarterback possibilities in their Week Seven matchup with the Carolina Panthers after Baker Mayfield completed his first extensive throwing work since dislocating his right thumb in Week Three against the Minnesota Vikings. Mayfield practiced in full Wednesday and Thursday while wearing a glove to protect the ligament, and the sessions proceeded without issue. The team also prepared for rookie Jalon Daniels to start for a fourth consecutive week.
Head Coach Todd Bowles planned to make a decision on Mayfield’s status after Friday’s practice. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ passing offense ranked 30th in the National Football League at the time of publication, making the quarterback decision an important part of the Week Seven preparation. The specific game date and venue were not provided in the source material.
Mayfield’s leadership remains central
Mayfield’s potential return would give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a veteran quarterback whose leadership and command have stood out during practice. Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson said Mayfield’s value extends beyond his arm and includes his presence in the locker room, command on the practice field and familiarity with the team’s terminology. Robinson also said Mayfield offered an idea for handling a specific defensive look during practice.
“Yeah, all those things that come with Bake – unbelievable leader, all the things in the locker room, just on the practice field, the command that he has,” Robinson said. “I know the systems have subtly changed, but he’s known this verbiage for quite some time now. So, all that stuff is so seamless, the conversations. He brought up something this morning for a certain look on their defense that’s like, ‘Hey, that’s a great idea. Let’s put it in.’ So, some of those next-level things that you get with the veteran quarterback like ‘Bake’ that’s seen a lot of football. Of course, we’re going to love if he’s out there and ready to roll.” Mayfield’s status remained subject to Bowles’ decision after Friday’s practice.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers want more from Chris Godwin Jr.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers planned to involve Chris Godwin Jr. more frequently as they looked for greater consistency from a passing offense ranked 30th in the league. Godwin had not recorded more than 50 receiving yards in a 2026 game and had not caught a touchdown in 2026 at the time of publication. His current production stood alongside a significant Tampa Bay Buccaneers career record.
Godwin ranked second in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history in receptions with 612, receiving yards with 7,626 and touchdown receptions with 41. He ranked fourth in franchise history with 43 total touchdowns. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, Godwin ranked 13th in the NFL in receptions with 519, 15th in receiving yards with 6,259 and tied for 25th in receiving touchdowns with 33.
Mayfield said the quarterback and receiver needed to improve their timing, execute the passing details and get the ball to Godwin sooner. “Chris and I have such a good relationship,” Mayfield said. “There’s been a ton of things that I think I can get the ball to him quicker, same with when J.D. [Jalon Daniels] was playing. We have to feature him more, but it comes down to also just being on the same page, executing the pass details. I mean, that meeting that we had, like you mentioned earlier, that just making sure that we’re in the right spots at the right time. Chris is a true pro, he knows how to handle that stuff. He’s a guy that…You just [have] to get him more touches. He’s not an easy guy to bring down. It’s not going to be flashy, but he’s a guy that if you get him more and more involved, your offense is going to thrive.” The plan gave Godwin another potential opportunity to become a larger part of the offense against Carolina.
David Walker brings pressure against Carolina Panthers passing attack
David Walker also entered Week Seven as an important part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ outlook. Walker missed his entire rookie season after suffering an ACL injury during training camp the previous year. He had 4.0 sacks in six games in 2026 while recording 88 defensive snaps, the fewest among players with 4.0 sacks at the time of publication.
Among qualified players with at least 45 pass-rush snaps, Walker ranked first in the league in sack rate at 8.2% and quarterback hit rate at 12.2%. He ranked second in pressure rate at 26.9% and third in quick pressure rate at 12.2%. Those figures positioned Walker as a notable pressure threat against the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers entered Week Seven with the NFL’s top-ranked passing offense. Walker was expected to pursue a sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. Pass Game Coordinator George Edwards said Walker had responded to his opportunities and continued working to expand his role.
“He’s taken the bull by the horn, the opportunities that he’s getting, and he’s had production with them,” Edwards said. “The big thing is, the more we put on his plate to do, he goes out, he works at it, and has been successful at those things. Seeing his skill set, like you said, he was out last year, off and on throughout the offseason, so the big thing is, I think, just coming together and working with the guys and seeing the skill set and being able to input the things that he does well within what we’re doing schematically.” Walker’s pass rush gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a defensive storyline to monitor against Carolina’s high-ranked passing attack.
FSB Take
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week Seven preparation centered on Mayfield’s status, Godwin’s planned increase in involvement and Walker’s pass-rush opportunity. Mayfield’s full practices provided a positive development, but the team maintained both quarterback plans while Bowles waited to make his decision after Friday’s practice. The source did not provide a final decision, game date or venue.
Godwin’s usage was an immediate offensive focus for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers passing game ranked 30th in the league. Walker’s efficiency gave the defense a developing pressure threat against the Carolina Panthers’ top-ranked passing offense. Together, those storylines framed the team’s preparation for Week Seven without resolving which quarterback would start.
Source: Original report