Panthers vs. Buccaneers Inenergetic Report

As they put together to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a must-win sport to maintain their division title hopes alive, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can be buoyed by the return of one in all their key defenders after an extended absence. Defensive lineman Calijah, who was activated off injured reserve on Friday, is energetic for the Week 18 contest and is predicted to see his first sport motion since Week Two.

Kancey, the Nineteenth-overall decide within the 2023 NFL Draft, suffered a pectoral damage within the Buccaneers’ Monday night time win over Houston on September 15 and was subsequently positioned on injured reserve. He missed the Bucs’ subsequent 14 video games however is now accessible for a key contest and, if issues go proper for the staff over the following two days, the playoffs. Kancey has missed time as a consequence of damage in every of his first three seasons, however within the 28 video games he has performed he has compiled 11.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits and 73 QB pressures.

The Buccaneers additionally get Pro Bowl left deal with Tristan Wirfs again for Week 18 after he missed the final sport in Miami as a consequence of a turf toe damage. They can be with out cornerback Jamel Dean (shoulder) and outdoors linebacker Anthony Nelson (knee).

The Buccaneers and Panthers submitted their checklist of inactives at 3:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, 90 minutes earlier than the scheduled kickoff of their Week 18 assembly at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Buccaneers elevated Pierre-Paul from their observe squad for the sport and thus needed to title six inactives to get right down to the game-day restrict of 48. The Panthers elevated cornerback David Long and linebacker Jacoby Windmon from their observe squad for the sport and needed to title seven gamers inactive on Saturday.

Carolina’s protection can be with out beginning defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, who’s coping with a hamstring damage. In addition, linebacker Claudin Cherelus, who had moved into the beginning lineup with the transfer of Trevin Wallace to injured reserve, is out for the sport as a consequence of calf and ankle illnesses.

• QB Connor Bazelak (third QB)
• CB Jamel Dean
• G Elijah Klein
• OLB Anthony Nelson
• WR Sterling Shepard
• DL Elijah Simmons

Dean and Nelson are out as a consequence of damage.

• S D’Anthony Bell
• LB Claudin Cherelus
• DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
• WR Hunter Renfrow
• S Demani Richardson
• CB Robert Rochell
• DT Tershawn Wharton

Cherelus, Rochell and Wharton are out as a consequence of damage.