The Bucs will as soon as once more be with out two starters for Sunday’s Week 17 contest towards the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium, as security Antoine Winfield Jr. and tight finish Cade Otton are among the many gameday inactives for Tampa Bay.
Winfield will miss his third straight sport after struggling a knee sprain in a 28-13 win over the Raiders on Dec. 8. He hasn’t practiced since, and contemplating the opposite accidents Tampa Bay has on the security place, he has been sorely missed.
As for Otton, he’ll miss his second consecutive sport with a knee harm. He was missed within the Bucs’ passing sport in final Sunday evening’s loss at Dallas, with No. 2 tight finish Payne Durham ending with a career-high 5 catches on seven targets for 29 yards. Durham should step up into his place as soon as once more on Sunday.
Whereas Otton is having a profession 12 months with 59 catches for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns, his absence not solely impacts Tampa Bay’s passing sport but in addition its run sport. That’s one thing that Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo outlined previous to final week’s sport towards the Cowboys.
Right here is the total checklist of inactives for Tampa Bay in Week 17:
Gamers Inactive for Right now’s Sport vs. Carolina (12/29):
#11 QB Michael Pratt#17 WR Sterling Shepard#31 S Antoine Winfield Jr.#33 OLB Jose Ramirez#56 OLB Shaquil Barrett#64 OL Royce Newman#88 TE Cade Otton
Elevated for Right now’s Sport: #11 QB Michael Pratt#45 LB Deion Jones
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) December 29, 2024
Additionally among the many Bucs’ inactives is the just lately re-signed Shaq Barrett. The veteran outdoors linebacker just lately got here out of retirement and was waived by the Dolphins, and as soon as he cleared waivers, Tampa Bay introduced him again into the fold.
However Barrett solely simply signed together with his previous group on Saturday, so it was all the time going to be a tricky ask to have him lively at some point later. That leaves subsequent week’s common season finale (and a possible playoff run) for Barrett to assist bolster the Bucs’ go dashing depth.
Barrett’s 45.0 profession sacks with Tampa Bay is the fourth-most in franchise historical past, however he’s a full 10.0 away from passing Gerald McCoy for third-most all time.
Tampa Bay elevated two gamers from the follow squad this week, rewarding third quarterback Michael Pratt (who’s inactive) and giving a gameday roster spot to linebacker Deion Jones, who signed with the group final week.
Panthers Are Brief-Handed In opposition to The Bucs In Week 17
On the Panthers’ aspect of issues, they arrive into Sunday’s matchup with out some key gamers on each side of the ball. As they attempt to play spoiler this week towards the Bucs and/or subsequent week towards the Falcons, they’ll be doing so with out some key items.
The group positioned 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on injured reserve this week, that means the offense will likely be with out its high two operating backs for the remainder of the season with rookie Jonathon Brooks additionally on injured reserve.
Proper sort out Taylor Moton will even lacking from motion on Sunday for the Panthers, which is an enormous loss for his or her offensive line.
The Carolina protection can also be lacking a few of its high gamers, with second-leading tackler Josey Jewell and high cornerback Jaycee Horn among the many inactives for Sunday’s sport.
Right here’s the total checklist of inactives for Carolina in Week 17:
The entire Panthers’ inactives:CB Jaycee HornOT Taylor MotonLB Josey JewellS Jordan Fuller (wholesome scratch)WR Deven Thompkins (wholesome scratch)QB Jack Plummer (third quarterback)
— Joe Individual (@josephperson) December 29, 2024