The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had no players on their Week 16 injury report who were in doubt to be available for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, but there was still one name that provided some will-he-or-won't-he intrigue. That would be outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, who was elevated from the Buccaneers' practice squad on Saturday and was thus eligible to suit up for an NFL game for the first time since December of 2023.
And the Buccaneers have, in fact, kept Pierre-Paul among their active players for Sunday's contest, which will decide first place in the NFC South, at least for now. Pierre-Paul had 33.0 sacks in 54 games and won a Super Bowl in his first stint with Tampa Bay but last played for the team during the 2021 playoffs.
The Buccaneers will also be welcoming back several starters who missed the Week 15 contest against Atlanta due to injuries. That list includes safety Tykee Smith, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and tight end Cade Otton.
The Buccaneers and Panthers submitted their list of inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff of their Week 16 meeting at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Buccaneers elevated Pierre-Paul and defensive lineman Adam Gotsis from their practice squad for the game and thus had to name seven inactives to get down to the game-day limit of 48. The Panthers also used both of their elevation options, activating guard Saahdiq Charles and linebacker Isaiah Simmons for the game, and also had to name seven players inactive.
Carolina's defense will be down two starters on Sunday, as both defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) and linebacker Trevin Wallace (knee) were ruled out for the game on Friday. In addition, Ikem Ekwonu, the Panthers' starting left tackle who was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report due to a knee ailment, was not cleared to play and is inactive.
BUCCANEERS INACTIVES
- QB Connor Bazelak (3rd QB)
- TE Devin Culp
- G Elijah Klein
- WR Sterling Shepard
- DL Elijah Simmons
- LB Anthony Walker
- S Rashad Wisdom
None of the Buccaneers' inactives are out due to injury.
PANTHERS INACTIVES
- T Ikem Ekwonu
- DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
- TE James Mitchell
- WR Hunter Renfrow
- S Demani Richardson
- LB Trevin Wallace
- DT Tershawn Wharton
Ekwonu, Wallace and Wharton are out due to injury.
