The Bucs will face Christian McCaffrey this year – but it won’t be this Sunday. The Panthers traded away their Pro Bowl running back to San Francisco on Thursday night just days prior to Carolina’s home game against Tampa Bay. The Bucs will play the 49ers – and McCaffrey – later this year in San Francisco on December 11.

Tampa Bay was preparing to face a healthy and dangerous McCaffrey during Thursday’s practice prior to the team traveling to play the Panthers on Sunday. Those plans will change for Friday’s practice as Carolina parted ways with its primary weapon and former first-round pick. Carolina received four draft picks from the 49ers – second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

When healthy, McCaffrey is one of the NFL’s most electric and productive running backs. McCaffrey hasn’t been healthy since 2019 when he ran for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 116 passes for 1,005 yards and four more TDs.

But he’s healthy this season and has been the main focal point on offense for a very bad Panthers team. McCaffrey had 393 yards and two TDs on the ground and 33 catches for 277 yards and another score through the air.

Playing against the Panthers without their star running back should only increase the Bucs’ chances of winning. Tampa Bay could move to 4-3 win in a win in Carolina, and more importantly, improve to 3-0 in the NFC South division. The Bucs are the defending NFC South champions after winning the division last year with a 13-4 record.

The oddsmakers’ betting line went from the Bucs being favored by 11 points against the Panthers to 13 points with news of the McCaffrey trade on Thursday night.

Panthers Already In Rebuild Mode

Panthers QB Sam Darnold and former head coach Matt Rhule – Photo by: USA Today

The 1-5 Panthers are one of the worst teams in the league this year and fired head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow two weeks after a bad loss to the 49ers. Steve Wilks has taken over as the interim head coach and doesn’t have much to work with. The Panthers just traded away starting receiver Robbie Anderson this week to the Cardinals, and star receiver D.J. Moore has struggled this year.

Carolina also lost starting quarterback Baker Mayfield to a sprained ankle two weeks ago. The Panthers will start P.J. Walker at quarterback for a second straight game. Carolina has two quarterbacks – Sam Darnold and rookie Matt Corral – on injured reserve.

Walker has completed 15-of-22 passes this year for 120 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s been sacked four times. Walker started last week’s game at the Rams, a 24-10 loss, completing 10-of-16 passes for 60 yards.

In the backfield, D’Onta Foreman is expected to start at running back with McCaffrey gone. Foreman was the Panthers’ fourth-leading rusher this year with 37 yards on 12 carries.

Chuba Hubbard will be Foreman’s backup. He has 34 yards on six carries this year for the Panthers. As a rookie last year, Hubbard ran the ball nine times for 48 yards and caught two passes for eight yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ season-ending loss at Tampa Bay, 41-17.