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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing to play their first playoff game since 2008 and they will be doing so without star inside linebacker Devin White who could not clear COVID protocols in time for this game. However, they will have outside linebacker Sahquil Barrett back as well as wide receiver Mike Evans who suffered a knee injury just six days ago against the Falcons but is suited up and ready to play.
The big news for the Washington Football Team is that they will try to beat the Buccaneers without quarterback Alex Smith who wasn’t able to overcome his calf injury in order to play. Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke will start in his place.
Running back LeSean McCoy will also be inactive but wasn’t likely to see much playing time anyway with a healthy Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette ahead of him. Ke’Sahwn Vaughn may see a few snaps in McCoy’s place, but it’s likely to be the RoJo and Fournette show for the Bucs out of the backfield.
Here are the full inactives for each team ahead of their Wild Card match-up;
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
RB - LeSean McCoy
WR - Justin Watson
TE - Antony Auclair
DL - Jeremiah Ledbetter
G - Aaron Stinnie
CB - Herb Miller
QB - Ryan Griffin
LB Devin White and DL Steve McLendon are on the COVID/Reserve List
Washington Football Team:
QB - Alex Smith
RB - Lamar Miller
LB - Thomas Davis Sr.
T - David Steinmetz
LB - Jordan Kunaszyk
WR - Antonio Gandy-Golden
Another boost for the Buccaneers is the return of cornerback Carlton Davis III who is active and will start after missing time with an injury. Davis’ return will certainly improve the play of the secondary and is sorely needed if the Buccaneers are going to make any kind of run in this postseason.
The Buccaneers and WFT kickoff from FedEx Field at 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC. Mike Tirico and former Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy will be on the call.