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It’s a one-and-in game for your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The best they can hope for now is they get the No. 5 seed with wins this week and next. However, if they at least win this week they would be punching their ticket to their first playoff appearance in 13 years (2007).
There are some notable players inactive for the week 16 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Herb Miller has been elevated from the practice squad as Carlton Davis is now confirmed to be out for the game. This means a much bigger role for Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean and the rest of the Bucs secondary. Cockrell will continue to get reps as relief.
Ronald Jones II remains out this week as he was required to have two negative tests and also clear a 10-day wellness check showing no symptoms after being placed on the COVID/Reserve List last week. He was ruled out of this game earlier this week.
Here is a full list of inactive players from each side of the Week 16 NFC match-up.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
CB Carlton Davis III
QB Ryan Griffin
WR Justin Watson
TE Antony Auclair
DL Khalil Davis
RB Ronald Jones II (COVID/Reserve List)
Detroit Lions:
WR Kenny Golladay
S Jayron Kearse
LB Jamie Collins Sr.
OL Logan Stenberg
OL Tyrell Crosby
OL Frank Herron
OL Frank Ragnow
Leonard Fournette is once again active and expected to receive the lion’s share (pun intended) of the rushing opportunities. Carlton Davis is a heavy loss for the struggling Bucs secondary as they face a pass-heavy offense. More will depend on the defensive line to be disruptive in the backfield.
The Lions have been decimated as a whole, but more so defensively. They just about lost their entire defensive coaching staff as well as starting linebacker Jamie Collins Sr. Sean Ryan, Lion’s QB Coach, is expected to be the play caller while WR Coach, Robert Prince, will step in as the second interim head coach since Darrell Bevell has also been ruled out due to COVID-19 concerns. Evan Rothstein, HC Assistant/Research & Analysis, will step up as the Defensive play caller.
Things could get very interesting since the Bucs have no tape on the new play callers. Do they start off hard and fast, or remain slow as the Bucs have become known for in 2020.