The Buccaneers take on division rival Carolina inside Raymond James at 1:00 p.m. today. Here is a full list of inactive players for each team.
For a team in the Buccaneers that appears to be in a defensive downward spiral, the Bucs will be missing some key players on that side of the ball. We learned earlier this week that cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Robert McClain will each miss the contest as well as defensive end Noah Spence who was placed on injured reserve and is headed for his second shoulder surgery in as many seasons.
Here is the full list of inactives for the game;
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB – Brent Grimes
CB – Robert McClain
DB – Josh Robinson
T – Leonard Wester
C – Joe Hawley
TE – Antony Auclair
DT – Sealver Siliga
Carolina Panthers
QB – Garrett Gilbert
DB – LaDarius Gunter
FB – Alex Armah
RB – Fozzy Whittaker
OL – Ryan Kalil
OL – John Theus
DE – Bryan Cox
Cornerback Ryan Smith will replace Brent Grimes in the lineup and it appears a certainty that Vernon Hargreaves will make his return to outside corner rather than staying in the nickel position. That distinction will be Javien Elliott this week, who played well in spurts last season.
Having one of the worst defenses in the NFL and losing your best corner against a team like Carolina that can explode offensively is not a recipe for success. Mike Smith will have to get creative to keep Cam Newton uncomfortable and force bad passes or disrupt the timing.
A lot of eyes will be on T.J. Ward this week after his complaints about playing time. If there was ever a game where the Buccaneers desperately needed Ward to step up and be a big time playmaker, it’s today.
Next: Everything You Need To Know About Bucs vs Panthers
There is still time to check out this week’s Walking The Plank Podcast where we preview the game against the Panthers. Be sure to follow @ThePewterPlank for in-game reaction and conversation.