Though we couldn’t find any ghosts or goblins walking are One Buc Place on Wednesday, the Halloween spirit was alive and well with some trick AND treat for the Buccaneers injury report.

Before we get to that, we have to highlight what interim defensive coordinator Mark Duffner said at the podium.

The Buccaneers are heading to Carolina this week to play the 5-2 division foe Carolina Panthers. The Panthers and their quarterback Cam Newton are playing at one of the highest levels of any team this NFL season, and will certainly be a tough task for the young Buccaneers defense.

Duffner said that Newton is probably playing the best football he’s seen him play, and due to the fact that Newton is a threat to run or pass on any play, it will take tip-top discipline to slow him down on Sunday.

In the first “treat” of the day, Duffner hinted at the fact that lienbacker Kendell Beckwith would be returning to practice for the first time since his car accident this offseason.

Duffner said that last year, as a rookie, Beckwith was very productive and even lead the team in tackles in the Patriots game when he was playing the middle linebacker position.

He may have to again this year with Kwon Alexander now out for the year.

In another “treat” we asked first round pick defensive tackle Vita Vea about his knee.

There was a report earlier this week that said the team was fearful Vea may have torn his ACL against the Bengals last Sunday, but that MRI came back negative and he was all intact.

Vea said himself he’s fully good-to go this weekend.

Jason Pierre-Paul, who is having the best start of any Bucs defensive lineman since Simeon Rice, also chimed in on the Cam Newton matchup.

Pierre-Paul has eight sacks on the year, and we’re sure would love nothing more than to reach the double digit mark this Sunday, but Pierre-Paul admitted that it will be tough.

As of Monday, the Bucs will have a new quarterback to face off against the Panthers, as Ryan Fitzpatrick will be taking the snaps once again.

Offensive guard and one of the offensive captains on the team, Ali Marpet, talked about what Fitz brings as a starter and why the team has faith in him.

To wrap up the “treats” for the Buccaneers, Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry and, yes, Kendell Beckwith were all practicing on Wednesday.

However, Pierre-Paul, Mike Evans, Ronald Jones and Demar Dotson were all held out. JPP, Evans and Dotson still could play come Sunday, but it is likely that Jones will miss this week’s game and perhaps a few more due to a hamstring injury.

After practice, Koetter was asked more about his quarterback situation.

Koetter compared Winston’s situation to when the best golfers in the world sometimes go through slumps. He said it’s not because they’re incapable, just that sometimes they go through bad streaks. Koetter said he still believes in Winston.

We’ll be back tomorrow to talk to Monken, Fitzpatrick and plenty more Buccaneers at One Buc Place.