Panthers' P.J. Walker to start vs. Bucs with Sam Darnold return looming

P.J. Walker may not be the Carolina Panthers' quarterback of the future, but he'll remain their quarterback of the right now through this weekend. 

According to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks confirmed on Wednesday that Walker will start when 1-5 Carolina hosts the 3-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this coming Sunday. Additionally, Jacob Eason will serve as Walker's backup while both Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold work to recover from ankle setbacks. 

Walker started this past Sunday's 24-10 loss at the Los Angeles Rams and completed 10-of-16 passes for 60 yards before he exited that game with a neck injury. He later cleared the concussion protocol, though, and Wilks hinted earlier this week the 27-year-old was only dealing with "a little bit of soreness in his neck." 

Mayfield, Carolina's Week 1 starter last month, isn't expected to dress Sunday due to the ankle injury he suffered against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 9. An MRI confirmed he has a ligament tear that could keep him out for a total of two-to-six weeks. 

Darnold, meanwhile, was back on the practice field on Wednesday and has been designated to return from injured reserve after he missed the first month and a half of the regular season due to the ankle injury he experienced in August. Per league rules, the Panthers have 21 days to add him to the active roster.

"It’s all predicated on him and how he progresses," Wilks said about when Darnold could play this fall. "We have that 21-day window, but you don’t want to press him too soon because he hasn’t done anything in a while. I don’t want him to have a relapse." 

Wilks hasn't committed to starting either Mayfield or Darnold when they're healthy, so the job essentially is Walker's to win or lose until further notice.