For the second straight season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering the final week of the season with a chance to punch a playoff ticket as division champions. Last year things got dicey but worked out alright against the Panthers and this year it’s the New Orleans Saints who stand in their way.
Just like last season it shouldn’t be much of a challenge for the Bucs, who are clearly the superior team. Then again nothing comes easy for Tampa Bay which is why there’s an unusual amount of anxiety from fans around a game that should otherwise be relatively stress free.
Sure, the Saints are trying to play spoiler but that’s just about all they’re playing. None of the team’s main starters seem to be healthy and if Spencer Rattler keeps the Bucs out of the playoffs perhaps they don’t belong there in the first place.
If Tampa Bay wants to punch a playoff ticket then it’s going to need to do it short handed on defense, which is unfortunately nothing new.
Full inactives list for Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 vs. Saints
Antoine Winfield Jr., Jamel Dean, and Jordan Whitehead were all ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game, with the latter suffering the scariest injury of the group. Whitehead was involved in a car accident on his way to the team’s practice facility on Saturday and is expected to miss ‘multiple weeks’ with the injuries he sustained.
The Bucs aren’t expecting Whitehead to return at all this season, even if there’s a Dee playoff run, which further depletes and already thin defense. Winfield hasn’t played since the Week 14’s win over the Raiders and Dean has been hobbled by injuries all season.
The result is the elevation of Ryan Neal from the practice squad, although it’s expected that Kaevon Merriweather and Mike Edwards will fill in for the bulk of the action.
Here’s everyone who won’t be suiting up today for the Buccaneers’ season finale:
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Antoine Winfield Jr. | S | Knee |
Jamel Dean | CB | |
Jordan Whitehead | S | Non-Football Injury |
Cade Otton | TE | Knee |
Kam Johnson | WR | Healthy Scratch |
Royce Newman | OL | Healthy Scratch |
Jose Ramirez | LB | Healthy Scratch |
Of the offensive side of things, Cade Otton’s health has been something to keep an eye on. He’s missed the last few weeks with an injury, which is notable because of how important the is to the offense. The Bucs have managed without him, thanks in large part to Jalen McMillan stepping up, but his absence has been felt.
He’ll miss yet another game on Sunday but the hope is that it’ll give him time to rest up for the playoffs.
Someone who will be active is Shaq Barrett, who is making his re-introduction to Tampa Bay this week. Barrett signed a week ago and finally got back up to speed enough to play. It’s a huge boost for the Bucs defense, and hopefully adds some pass rush that has been sorely lacking in his absence.
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