Carlton Davis – Important – Injury
CB Carlton Davis has a knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s game against the 49ers and did not practice on Wednesday. If Davis is unable to go, the Bucs would likely turn to Ryan Smith.
Demar Dotson – Important – Injury
T Demar Dotson, who was unable to finish Sunday’s game against the 49ers, has a knee and hamstring injury and was limited in Wednesday’s practice.
DeSean Jackson – Important – Injury
WR DeSean Jackson has a thumb injury and was limited in practice Wednesday. Jackson has struggled with Jameis Winston at quarterback. He had only three catches for 19 yards on eight targets in the Bucs’ win over San Francisco.
Gerald McCoy – Noteworthy – Injury
DT Gerald McCoy has an ankle and shoulder injury and was limited in Wednesday’s practice.
Lavonte David – Important – Injury
LB Lavonte David, who missed the last two games with a sprained MCL in his right knee, returned to practice on Wednesday and could play against the Panthers.
“The first thing he said to me was that I needed to tell the trainers that he didn’t need to wear the knee brace,” head coach Dirk Koetter said. “I said, ‘That’s probably something for you to tell them and not me.’ But it was great having him back out there today. Lavonte is one of the most respected players on our team and a team captain. That’s a big boost to everybody’s morale out there.”
M.J. Stewart – Noteworthy – Injury
CB M.J. Stewart, who did not play last week, has a foot injury and did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
Ryan Smith – Noteworthy
CB Ryan Smith recorded the first interception in Sunday’s game for the Bucs since Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
David Rivers III – Noteworthy – Transaction
CB David Rivers was signed by the Buccaneers from their practice squad Wednesday (Nov. 28). Rivers (6-0, 185) has spent the past six weeks on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. He appeared in one game for the Buccaneers in 2017 and spent time on the team’s practice squad last season. The Miami native spent this past offseason with the Buccaneers, before being waived.
Donnie Ernsberger – Noteworthy – Transaction
TE Donnie Ernsberger was signed by the Buccaneers to their practice squad Wednesday (Nov. 28). He had been waived from reserve/injured with an injury settlement by the Buccaneers Aug. 17. Ernsberger (6-2, 237) spent time with the Buccaneers this past offseason, entering the league as a college free agent out of Western Michigan following the 2018 draft.