With the division and playoffs on the line, the Bucs will be at full strength with regards to their starters. Here are the week 18 gameday inactives for Tampa Bay:
Buccaneers’ Week 18 Inactives:
LB K.J. Britt
WR Rakim Jarrett
T Brandon Walton
OLB Markees Watts
QB John WolfordQB Baker Mayfield is set to start.https://t.co/rhTSk6mah3
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 7, 2024
These inactives mean that three starters who were questionable to play will, in fact, be on the field as the Bucs try to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, dealing with a rib injury suffered in the Bucs’ Week 17 home loss to New Orleans, will gut through the pain. Outside linebacker Shaq Barrett will play through a groin injury and cornerback Carlton Davis III will be active after clearing concussion protocol earlier in the week.
Linebacker K.J. Britt, who has been timesharing with Devin White, was downgraded to “doubtful” on Saturday with a calf injury, will not be active. That means White should go wire-to-wire with the starters.
On the Panthers’ side, here are their inactives:
PANTHERS INACTIVES
K Eddy Piñeiro
CB Shaquill Griffin
T Ricky Lee
G Cade Mays
G Ilm Manning
WR Mike Strachan
OLB Marquis Haynes— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) January 7, 2024
The most impactful player on this list is kicker Eddy Piñeiro. With him out due to a hamstring injury. the Panthers will be relying on Matthew Wright. Wright was signed to Carolina’s practice squad on Jan. 2.