Bears vs. Buccaneers inactives: Vincent Jackson out, Demar Dotson starts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Chicago Bears without wide receiver Vincent Jackson and defensive tackle Akeem Spence, who was placed on injured reserve, while safety Chris Conte will sit out today's game as well.

Bruce Carter returns to the lineup as the starting middle linebcaker after missing last week's game, with Danny Lansanah moving back to strongside linebacker. Surprisingly, Keith Tandy and not Major Wright will be starting for Chris Conte. And Russell Shepard will officially get the start at wide receiver for Vincent Jackson, though I'd expect Donteea Dye and Adam Humphries to get significant playing time there too.

Finally, the Bucs have decided to go back to Demar Dotson at right tackle, despite Gosder Cherilus being entirely healthy. Dotson was inactive the last two games with the Bucs preferring Cherilus at right tackle, but with just two games remaining and the team out of the playoff race they likely want to see whether Dotson has recovered well from his knee injury -- he looked like the better option at right tackle in his one start earlier this year.

As for the Chicago Bears, they'll be without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and linebacker Shea McClellin today but are otherwise healthy.

Buccaneers inactives: QB Ryan Griffin, S Chris Conte, RB Mike James, DE Kourtnei Brown, TE Brandon Myers, WR Vincent Jackson.

Bears inactives: WR Alshon Jeffery, CB Bryce Callahan, LB Shea McClellin, T Nick Becton, CB Jacoby Glenn, T Toya Fabuluje, DT Bruce Gaston.