TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles dominated out All-Pro security Antoine Winfield Jr., tight finish Cade Otton and vast receiver Sterling Shepard for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.
It will probably be Winfield’s third consecutive missed recreation since struggling a proper knee sprain in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 8. He has not practiced since.
Otton suffered a knee damage on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 and has not practiced since, lacking the Bucs’ 26-24 loss on the Dallas Cowboys final week that snapped a four-game successful streak.
Shepard, who has helped fill the void left after Chris Godwin sustained an ankle damage in Week 7, suffered each hamstring and foot accidents at Dallas.
The Bucs have already been with out their different beginning security Jordan Whitehead, though he did start his 21-day return-to-practice window this week after struggling {a partially} torn pectoral muscle in Week 12 and touchdown on injured reserve. He has not been activated to the 53-man roster but, nevertheless, however was a full participant in observe this week and has been working towards with a harness.
The workforce does have one starting-caliber security left, though he wasn’t initially a starter and even on the Bucs’ roster at first of the season — Mike Edwards — who was claimed off of waivers simply previous to Week 12. Edwards, nevertheless, missed Weeks 14 and 15 resulting from a hamstring damage after which was coping with an sickness Tuesday of this week, however he was a full participant the rest of the week. The workforce has till Saturday to activate him — they usually might actually do this with backup nickelback/security Christian Izien going to IR with a pectoral damage — however they’re going to additionally have to clear a roster spot for punter Jack Browning, who has maximized his observe squad elevations for the yr.
On high of that, security Kaevon Merriweather, who performed 51.8% of defensive snaps in opposition to the Cowboys, has been restricted by a knee damage all week.
At tight finish, Payne Durham will proceed to exchange Otton on the “Y” receiver place going ahead. And in Shepard’s absence, Ryan Miller, who scored a 13-yard landing with 2:40 to go to offer the Bucs an opportunity in opposition to the Cowboys, is anticipated to get a heavier workload.
Bowles stated that beginning inside linebacker K.J. Britt, who has been coping with an ankle damage, will probably be a game-time choice.
The Bucs might want to seemingly win out to tug forward of the Atlanta Falcons, who maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bucs, with a purpose to advance to the playoffs.
