Raiders vs. Buccaneers inactives: Doug Martin, Stacy McGee out

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to face the Oakland Raiders without running back Doug Martin and defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, as expected. Both of them had been ruled out on Friday, and that did not change today.

The Bucs will, however, have Robert Ayers back, as the defensive end is not listed among the team’s inactive players for today’s game. The Bucs have had to miss their prize free agent signing since week three, and his absence has been noticeable on the defensive line. They’ll hope his return and that of Gerald McCoy last week can kickstart the pass rush in particular.

As for the Raiders, they’ll be without starting defensive tackle Stacy McGee, hurting an already anemic pass rush and downright awful run defense. The Bucs will hope to take advantage that by giving Jacquizz Rodgers the ball over and over again, as they’ve done in recent weeks.

One other note: Johnthan Banks is inactive again, once again reinforcing the notion that Tampa Bay is entirely done with their fourth-year cornerback and former second-round pick. Banks has yet to get any playing time on defense this season, after being an off-and-on starter for the first three years of his career.

Buccaneers inactives: CB Johnthan Banks, G Caleb Benenoch, QB Ryan Griffin, RB Doug Martin, DT Clinton McDonald, DE Channing Ward, T Leonard Wester

Raiders inactives: QB Connor Cook, CB Dexter McDonald, CB Antonio Hamilton, OL Menelik Watson, OL Matt McCants, TE Ryan O'Malley, DT Stacy McGee.