CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The 1-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday to face the 3-2 Carolina Panthers at 1:00 p.m. ET, with undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels potentially making way for starter Baker Mayfield, who practiced in full Wednesday after suffering a dislocated right thumb.
Mayfield’s return is the central question heading into the Week Seven divisional matchup. Daniels has commanded the offense for three straight games in Mayfield’s absence, but the Buccaneers have not ruled out their starter suiting up against Carolina.
Tampa Bay’s most reliable weapon regardless of who lines up under center may be running back Bucky Irving, who has torched the Panthers twice in four career meetings with 100-yard rushing performances. Irving’s career-best came against Dallas in Week Five - 165 yards, including a 72-yard carry. The Panthers rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per carry at 5.12, a figure Irving will look to exploit. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, who leads Carolina with 35 tackles and 2.0 sacks, figures to be his primary obstacle.
On the other side of the ball, Tampa Bay faces the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense, led by Bryce Young, who is averaging a career-best 309.8 pass yards per game. Defensive end David Walker will be tasked with disrupting Young’s rhythm. Walker has recorded 4.0 sacks through six games despite logging just 88 defensive snaps - the fewest among players with that sack total. Among players with 45-plus pass-rush snaps, Walker ranks first in the NFL in sack rate at 8.2%, first in quarterback hit rate at 26.9%, second in pressure rate at 26.9% and third in quick pressure rate at 12.2%. The Buccaneers posted five sacks on Aaron Rodgers in Week Six after going sackless in two consecutive games.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum will draw the assignment of covering Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, who is averaging 94.2 receiving yards per game - tied for sixth in the NFL - and has accumulated 471 yards on 32 receptions in 2026.
Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, a free-agent acquisition, also brings momentum into Sunday’s game. Robinson intercepted Aaron Rodgers last week for his second pick of the season and third of his career. His two interceptions in 2026 are the most by a Buccaneers defensive lineman since Gaines Adams had two in 2008.
Offensive lineman Cody Mauch, returning from a 2025 knee injury, will face Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who has recorded 175 run stops since 2022 - second among all defensive tackles in that span. Carolina’s run defense ranks 27th in the NFL, allowing 132.2 yards per game, but Brown remains a formidable interior presence. Kickoff Sunday at Bank of America Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.