Buccaneers - Vikings Inactives: Da'Quan Bowers Will Play

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added defensive end Da'Quan Bowers to the 53-man roster after a six month absence. Bowers tore his Achilles tendon in May of this year, forcing him to be placed on the physically unable to perform list. He missed the first six games of the season, but will play in this seventh game. Expect him to be used mostly as a pass-rush specialist to help get some pressure on the quarterback. To make room for the defensive end, the Bucs released cornerback LeQuan Lewis.

The Bucs lost defensive end Adrian Clayborn for the season due to a knee injury in week 3, and the team has managed just a single sack in three games since his loss. Bowers should give the Bucs a better chance to get to the quarterback, although he won't be a miracle worker. Returning from a severe injury is hard enough, but he was still very raw as a rookie last year.

For the Minnesota Vikings, no significant players are inactive. Tight end John Carlson is the only unexpected inactive player, and he has hardly been a force to reckon with considering the 3 catches for 8 yards he has accumulated this season.

Full Inactives

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Myron Lewis, RB Michael Smith, DB Keith Tandy, LB Najee Goode, G Cody Wallace, WR Chris Owusu, TE Danny Noble

Minnesota Vikings: Qb McLeod Bethel-Thompson, WR Jarius Wright, CB Brandon Burton, S Mistral Raymond, LB Audie Cole, G Mark Asper, TE John Carlson.