Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris said the starting status of Josh Freeman would go all the way to Sunday morning, but with the promotion of Rudy Carpenter from the practice squad by Saturday night, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion Josh Johnson would get his fifth career start. Sunday morning it was made official when the Buccaneers announced Freeman would be inactive for the matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

Johnson has the support of his teammates.

“I think regardless of who is under there we will be in good shape,” center Jeff Faine told PewterReport.com Friday. “I think Josh Johnson has all the tools and natural ability to be a franchise quarterback. He has a very explosive arm, he's very intelligent and he internalizes the game very, very well. I’m not concerned at all. We are very fortunate to have him on our roster here. I think one day he will be a starting quarterback in this league.”

Other inactives for Sunday’s throwback game are CB Myron Lewis, DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE Michael Bennett, T Derek Hardman, T James Lee, and WR Micheal Spurlock.