Despite suffering a minor setback to his shoulder on Friday Josh Freeman will returning to the starting lineup after missing last week's game. This should help a Tampa Bay offense that has struggled all season, but faces a depleted Jacksonville defense which is especially weak in the secondary.
With Freeman active, Rudy Carpenter returns to the bench but WR Micheal Spurlock is actually active for the first time in over a month. Spurlock could act as an emergency QB if Freeman and Johnson are injured during the game. Spurlock returning means Sammie Stroughter takes his spot on the inactives list. In addition, S Ahmad Black is active as S Larry Asante is out with an injury. star CB Aqib Talib is not playing with a hamstring injury, as was known earlier this week.
Albert Haynesworth is playing, while the Bucs are only suiting up three defensive ends this week with Adrian Clayborn, Da'Quan Bowers and Michael Bennett.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, S Dwight Lowery, CB T.J. Heath and WR Taylor Price are the most significant inactives. The two secondary injuries hurt an already very much depleted Jacksonville secondary. Taylor Price was picked up earlier this week after being released by the New England Patriots and would have added some real speed to a very poor receiving corps.
Full Inactives:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Rudy Carpenter, WR Sammie Stroughter, S Larry Asante, CB Aqib Talib, DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, T Derek Hardman and T James Lee.
Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Dan LeFevour, WR Taylor Price, S Dwight Lowery, CB T.J. Heath, RB Deji Karim, RB C.J. Estes, DE Matt Roth