The Buccaneers need a win over the Dolphins on Sunday to ensure themselves a chance at winning the NFC South in Week 18 and they’re off to a good start.
After forcing a quick Miami punt, Baker Mayfield drove the Bucs 68 yards for their first points of the game. They came on a five-yard throw to wide receiver Chris Godwin and the Bucs are now up 7-0 with 5:27 to play in the first quarter.
Mayfield was 6-of-8 for 57 yards on the drive. Three of the completions went to wide receiver Jalen McMillan for 39 yards.
With a win, the Bucs will play the Panthers for the division title in the final weekend of the regular season.
The Panthers added rookie Tetairoa McMillan to their injury report with an illness on Sunday morning, but they won’t have to go without their top wide receiver against the Seahawks.
McMillan is active for their home game against the NFC West frontrunners. The first-round pick has 65 catches for 924 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season.
The Panthers will win the NFC South on Sunday with a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins. If they don’t get that combination of results, the two teams will okay for the division crown in Week 18.
Seahawks at Panthers
Seahawks: WR Hunter Renfrow, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Panthers: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Coby Bryant, LB Jared Ivey, T Charles Cross, G Bryce Cabledue, OL Mason Richman, DL Brandon Pili
Steelers at Browns
Steelers: QB Will Howard, WR Calvin Austin, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Brandin Echols, CB James Pierre, G Isaac Seumalo, EDGE T.J. Watt, DL Logan Lee
Browns: OL Jeremiah Byers, QB Dillon Gabriel, OL Kendrick Green, CB Myles Harden, DL Sam Kamara, TE David Njoku, WR Jamari Thrash
Patriots at Jets
Patriots: QB Tommy DeVito, WR Kayshon Boutte, OT Marcus Bryant, G Jared Wilson, NT Khyiris Tonga, LB Robert Spillane, LB Harold Landry
Jets: QB Tyrod Taylor, OL Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner, TE Mason Taylor, DL Mazi Smith, S Chris Smith
Saints at Titans
Saints: S Ugo Amadi, WR Mason Tipton, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, G Cesar Ruiz, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT Bryan Bresee
Titans: S Jerrick Reed, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley
Jaguars at Colts
Jaguars: CB Keith Taylor, RB Bhayshul Tuten, G Patrick Mekari, C Robert Hainsey, TE Hunter Long, DL Danny Striggow, DT Maason Smith
Colts: C Tanor Bortolini, RB Tyler Goodson, S Reuben Lowery, S George Odum, OL Dalton Tucker, DL JT Tuimoloau
Buccaneers at Dolphins
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, WR Sterling Shepard, S Rashad Wisdom, LB John Bullock, OT Tristan Wirfs, EDGE Anthony Nelson
Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, OL Kendall Lamm, C Aaron Brewer, LB Derrick McClendon
Cardinals at Bengals
Cardinals: S Budda Baker, OL Evan Brown, TE Pharaoh Brown, CB Kei’Trel Clark, K Joshua Karty, CB Kalen King, DL PJ Mustipher
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, CB Josh Newton, S PJ Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Cam Grandy, DT Jordan Jefferson
The Dolphins placed wide receiver Dee Eskridge, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and defensive tackle Benito Jones on injured reserve on Sunday, the team announced.
Eskridge was doubtful to play Sunday with a toe injury, while Johnson (knee) and Jones (back) were already ruled out. That ends the season for the three players.
Eskridge played 13 games this season, seeing action on 88 offensive snaps and 78 on special teams. He has four catches for 62 yards and one tackle.
Johnson has made his first four regular-season appearances this season, playing three defensive snaps and 55 on special teams. He has three special teams tackles.
Johnson tore his ACL in practice earlier this week.
In 14 games, with eight starts this season, Jones has 15 tackles and a sack.
The Dolphins also announced they activated offensive lineman Andrew Meyer off injured reserve. Meyer, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Dolphins in 2024, has never played a regular-season game.
The Dolphins also signed wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad and elevated linebacker Derrick McLendon and offensive lineman Josh Priebe to the game-day roster for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
Before practice on Friday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel ruled out safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
Cornerback Isaiah Johnson will land on injured reserve after tearing an ACL in practice earlier this week.
The full report also brought news that defensive tackle Benito Jones (back) won’t play. Jones was downgraded to a non-participant in Friday’s practice after limited work Wednesday and Thursday.
Wide receiver Dee Eskridge (toe) is doubtful after another missed practice on Friday.
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson (chest), center Aaron Brewer (neck), offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (triceps) and kicker Jason Sanders (right hip) are questionable.
Tight end Darren Waller (rest/groin) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (wrist) does not have an injury designation.
The Buccaneers will not have left tackle Tristan Wirfs in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
Wirfs injured his toe in last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers and head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday that Wirfs has been ruled out because of the injury. This will be the fifth game that Wirfs has missed this season with knee and oblique injuries accounting for the previous absences.
Bowles said that rookie Benjamin Chukwuma will start in place of Wirfs. He also started in the team’s Week 14 loss to the Saints.
Edge rusher Anthony Nelson and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey have also been ruled out. Nelson injured his knee against Carolina while Kancey is working his way back from a Week 2 pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve.
