Jamel

Dean

The Buccaneers will be without their No. 1 cornerback against the Panthers this week. It will be tougher for the Buccaneers to cover Panthers rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan sans Dean, which is a plus for fantasy purposes. Hopefully, Dean can resume playing this season if the Buccaneers punch a ticket to the playoffs.

The Buccaneers’ No. 1 cornerback is now on the wrong side of questionable for his team’s Week 18 game against the Panthers. The Buccaneers (7-9) and Panthers (8-8) are playing for the NFC South title and a postseason appearance.

Dean has been by far Tampa’s best cornerback this year, producing a 76.9 PFF coverage grade. It would be a big loss if he wasn’t able to go against the Panthers on Saturday. Dean left Week 17’s loss to the Dolphins in the third quarter and did not return.

Dean left in the third quarter against the Dolphins and was getting his shoulder tested on the sidelines. Dean had two tackles and a pass defensed before leaving. Jacob Parrish will be in the game to replace Dean in the secondary rotations.

Reddick has not been able to play since Week 7 and is not yet back at practice. Also not practicing on defense were Jamel Dean (hip) and Chris Braswell (foot). Dean is week-to-week with his injury while Braswell’s is new and Reddick does not have a timeline for his return. The Bucs defense will be sparse if neither of the three can suit up for Week 12 against the Rams.

Dean exited Sunday’s game against the Bills and will be evaluated later in the week, according to Bowles. This sounds like a minor injury to Dean, who has already notched a career-high three interceptions this season while also totaling six pass breakups and 28 tackles on the year. The Bucs will hope he’ll have enough time to get right ahead of a big Sunday night matchup against the Rams in Week 12.

Dean played one series to start the game and then limped to the locker room. Benjamin Morrison will take over for him, but this would be a big loss because Dean has been the Bucs’ best cornerback.

No surprises here. All five of these players are injured, and it sounds like the Bucs will be without Evans and Irving next week as well.

In addition to Dean, the Buccaneers also ruled out CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and S Christian Izien (quad). Dean is the most notable absence here. Having appeared on 175 defensive snaps this season, per PFF, Dean has been stingy in coverage thus far, allowing just six receptions on 16 targets to go with 43 scoreless yards. Backup corners Jacob Parrish and Kindle Vildor figure to see some extended work with Dean now out.

Dean left the Bucs’ Week 4 loss to the Eagles with a groin injury that now seems to be more of a hip issue. Also not practicing were CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and DB Christian Izien (quad). If none of the trio can practice the rest of the week, the Bucs’ secondary will look depleted against the Seahawks for Week 5.