The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bring back some painful memories. Tom Brady to Scotty Miller. Baker Mayfield's perfect passer rating versus Joe Barry.
If there were ever a time for the Green Bay Packers to snap their losing streak against the Buccaneers, this is it.
Tampa Bay enters Week 4 winless and without Mayfield. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will start. The Packers don't have the same quarterback uncertainty, but just about everything surrounding him has fallen apart in the opening three weeks. Somehow, it's already a game the Packers simply can't lose.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Week 4. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates.
How to watch Packers vs. Buccaneers in Week 4
- Date: Sunday, October 4
- Time: Noon CT
- TV Network: FOX
- Announcers: Chris Myers, Jonathan Vilma, Jen Hale
Last updated: Sunday, October 4 at 10:30 a.m. CT
Packers vs. Buccaneers injury updates
Packers inactives
- OL Aaron Banks
- OL Jacob Monk
- OL Kevin Zeitler
- DL Anthony Campbell
The Packers will be without Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk due to injury, which forces the team into yet another offensive line reshuffle (although maybe that's not a bad thing?). However, new signing Kevin Zeitler isn't ready yet.
That likely means Laken Tomlinson will make his first Packers start at left guard, with Donovan Jennings or Jager Burton starting at right guard. Mekhi Becton is unavailable, as the Packers didn't elevate him from the practice squad.
Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (shoulder) and Edgerrin Cooper (shoulder/concussion) are good to go.
The Packers will again be without defensive tackle Warren Brinson (calf/groin), who is now on injured reserve. Matt LaFleur said Brinson will miss "significant" time – he had just returned to practice from a calf injury but suffered a groin injury during Wednesday's session, and it will likely keep him out for a while.
Buccaneers inactives
- QB Baker Mayfield
- DL DeMonte Capehart
- G Luke Haggard
- TE Ko Kieft
- CB Benjamin Morrison
- G Billy Schrauth
The biggest story is that quarterback Baker Mayfield (right thumb) is expected to miss multiple weeks. He has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Packers, with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels making his first career start in his place.
Running back Bucky Irving (glute) is good to go. He had been limited at practice earlier in the week but logged a full session on Friday.
Weather forecast for Packers vs. Buccaneers
The Packers didn't look good in the rain. They didn't look good at night. They didn't even look good indoors.
How about the heat and humidity in Tampa Bay? Early forecasts from AccuWeather predict temperatures around 90 degrees. Some rain is possible, though, and the forecast adds that a "lightning delay cannot be ruled out during the football game."
Storylines to watch for Packers in Week 4
Who starts along the Packers' new-look offensive line?
What a difference a week makes. General manager Brian Gutekunst had clearly seen enough from this offensive line and used the mini-bye to add reinforcements.
Green Bay signed former Pro Bowl right guard Kevin Zeitler on Wednesday, just days after adding Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton. How many of them are ready to start? What's the plan?
Zeitler will start at right guard once he's ready, and it won't be surprising if the Packers fast-track that process to get him out there against the Buccaneers. Tomlinson is most comfortable at left guard, where he'll presumably start, with Aaron Banks still sidelined.
Becton, who is on the practice squad, will presumably begin as a backup option at guard and tackle.
It's unclear exactly how the Packers will arrange their new offensive line pieces, but we can safely assume Jacob Monk, Donovan Jennings, and Jager Burton have been pushed down the depth chart.
How does Jonathan Gannon game plan against Jalon Daniels?
Green Bay would've spent some time after last Thursday's game preparing for Baker Mayfield, only for Mayfield to dislocate his thumb on one of the final plays of Tampa Bay's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Now, the focus shifts to Jalon Daniels.
It's the undrafted rookie's first NFL start, which is undoubtedly an advantage for the Packers. But it also makes things awkward for Gannon, who has only three passes worth of regular-season tape on Daniels to study. We're entering the unknown.
Gannon will be aware of Daniels' rushing ability – he tallied 843 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his final two seasons for Kansas.
Daniels has a big arm and led two game-winning drives in the preseason. It helped him rise from the bottom of the depth chart to become the surprising QB2 choice behind Mayfield. Daniels has nothing to lose in this game, and the Packers will need to be ready.
Prediction
Packers 20, Buccaneers 14
Do I really have to make a prediction? OK, fine. It could get ugly, even with the Packers' offensive line changes. They'll need time to adjust. However, Green Bay can't lose to an undrafted rookie making their first career start, right? Right?!
This should be a nice bounce-back game for Jonathan Gannon's unit, with opportunities to force turnovers. That will give the offense enough short fields to finally cash in and score some points.
Look no further than last week. Jalon Daniels only attempted three passes, but one ended up in the hands of Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.
The Packers win, even if it's not the most convincing performance.
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