The Bucs need a win against the Dolphins to absolutely ensure they stay alive for the playoffs. That makes their roster decisions for this game of the utmost importance. With their season on the line the team has elevated outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul from the practice squad and will have him available on their active roster against Miami.

The players on their active roster who will not be getting a gameday hat are as follows.

Players Inactive for Today’s Game vs. MIA:

#16 QB Connor Bazelak (3QB)
#17 WR Sterling Shepard
#38 S Rashad Wisdom
#57 LB John Bullock
#78 LT Tristan Wirfs
#98 OLB Anthony Nelson

Elevated from Practice Squad:
#91 OLB Jason Pierre-Paul

— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) December 28, 2025

Bucs Lose Pro Bowler With Season On The Line

The Bucs started the season without Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs, having to navigate the first three games of the 2025 campaign without him as he worked back from a summer knee surgery. The team used starting center Graham Barton as Wirfs’ fill-in to mixed results.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Wirfs also missed week 14 due to an oblique injury. That time the team opted to give rookie undrafted free agent Ben Chukwuma the start in Wirfs’ stead. The rookie did not disappoint, with a strong game against the Saints’ best pass rusher, Chase Young. Tampa Bay will be hoping Chukwuma is able to provide a similar performance against Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson today.

WR Sterling Shepard Inactive For Second Straight Week

The Bucs didn’t use their receivers much last week, foregoing the resources they poured into the room for a run-heavy gameplan. So, it didn’t matter much who was active and who not. But the veteran Sterling Shepard was the odd man out in favor of a rotation that included Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson.

Head coach Todd Bowles is keeping the receiver room static today, keeping Shepard inactive for the second consecutive week.

Rookie Inactive After Big Mistake Last Week

Undrafted free agent linebacker John Bullock made a huge gaff on special teams last week, earning an unnecessary roughness penalty just before the Bucs’ final offensive drive of the game. The mistake cost Tampa Bay 10 yards of field position, forcing them to start at their own 10 instead of their own 20-yard line. For his efforts, Bullock will not have the chance to redeem himself this week as he is also inactive for this crucial tilt with the Dolphins.

Bucs ILB John Bullock – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Dolphins Inactives

The Dolphins are without two impactful starters – one on offense and one on defense. Center Aaron Brewer has been playing the position as well as anyone this year. But a neck injury had him as questionable for today’s game. Brewer is unable to go and is inactive. This is a huge boon for the Bucs. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was already ruled out on Friday with a calf injury.

Miami has also ruled former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa inactive, although he could make an appearance as an emergency backup if starter Quinn Ewers and backup Zach Wilson were both to fall to injury. Here is the full inactives report for the Dolphins.

Inactives for #TBvsMIA pic.twitter.com/pf321roKoH

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 28, 2025