Tampa Bay Buccaneers dodge potential absence of key starter in final injury report
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a key part of its defense available when they take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. CB Jamel Dean managed to avoid a game status designation in Friday's final practice report, which means he's good to go on Sunday. Dean raised some eyebrows on Thursday when he was […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a key part of its defense available when they take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
CB Jamel Dean managed to avoid a game status designation in Friday's final practice report, which means he's good to go on Sunday.
Dean raised some eyebrows on Thursday when he was listed as a limited practice participant with a listed ailment of "knees". As in both, not just one. Dean played in 60 snaps on Sunday in the Bucs' 26-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which was tied for most on the defense with Lavonte David. As such, his appearance on the injury report kind of came out of left field.
However, the Bucs will still apparently have both of their starting cornerbacks against Carolina, which is a welcome positive in a secondary decimated by injuries this season, particularly recently. Safety Mike Edwards is cleared to go, and Jordan Whitehead was listed as questionable, giving him at least a chance to play on Sunday.
For the rest of the report, Antoine Winfield, Jr., Cade Otton, and Sterling Shepard have all been ruled out. K.J. Britt and Kam Johnson have been listed as questionable.
On the other side of the coin, Carolina has a laundry list of players with game designations. CB Jaycee Horn is listed as doubtful, which is a big blow to the Panthers' defense, as is starting tackle Taylor Moten. Chuba Hubbard headlines a group of seven players listed as questionable.
The Bucs and Panthers get underway on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
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