The Panthers opened Sunday’s home game against the Buccaneers with a field goal, but they’re down 7-3 before the end of the first quarter.
After a Bucky Irving run set the Bucs up on the 1-yard line, Baker Mayfield found wide receiver Mike Evans in single coverage for a touchdown. The score put the Bucs in the lead with 4:01 to play in the first quarter.
Tampa only had to drive 53 yards for the score thanks to a long kickoff return by Kameron Johnson. Irving ran for 25 yards on five carries and Mayfield also picked up first downs on throws to Evans and Jalen McMillan.
The Panthers had a nine-play, 56-yard drive to open the game, but had to settle for a field goal after Chuba Hubbard lost three yards on a third down run.
The Bills will try to wrap up a playoff berth without the help of wide receiver Keon Coleman on Sunday.
Coleman is inactive for Buffalo’s game in Cleveland. Coleman was not on the injury report at all this week, but will miss his third game of the season. Coleman was scratched for disciplinary reasons earlier this year, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports Sunday’s deactivation is solely a coach’s decision. Coleman was a 2024 second-round pick and he has 36 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Mecole Hardman, who was activated from injured reserve this week, is active.
The Bills need a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts in order to book a playoff berth. A win will also help their chances of ending the season as the AFC East champs for the sixth straight season.
Bills at Browns
Bills: WR Keon Coleman, WR Gabe Davis, DT Jordan Phillips, K Matt Prater, OL Tylan Grable, DB Darnell Savage, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Browns: CB Denzel Ward, RB Dylan Sampson, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Wyatt Teller, WR Jamari Thrash, TE David Njoku, DT Sam Kamara
Buccaneers at Panthers
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, TE Devin Culp, G Elijah Klein, WR Sterling Shepard, DL Elijah Simmons, LB Anthony Walker, S Rashad Wisdom
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, LB Trevin Wallace, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, OT Ikem Ekwonu, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Jets at Saints
Jets: QB Justin Fields, TE Mason Taylor, DT Mazi Smith, LB Kiko Mauigoa, DT Payton Page, DE Eric Watts
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Asim Richards, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DT Khristian Boyd
Chiefs at Titans
Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice, CB Trent McDuffie, OT Jaylon Moore, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Dameon Pierce, OL CJ Hanson, DT Derrick Nnadi
Titans: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley, LB Cedric Gray, S Erick Hallett
Chargers at Cowboys
Chargers: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, EDGE Bud Dupree, OL Branson Taylor, OT Trey Pipkins, TE Tyler Conklin
Cowboys: DT Quinnen Williams, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, DT Jay Toia, OT Tyler Guyton
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: LB Austin Keys, DT Javon Hargrave, OT Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford
Giants: LB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Russell Wilson
Bengals at Dolphins
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, DB Brayln Lux, S P.J. Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Noah Fant, DT Jordan Jefferson
Dolphins: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Matthew Butler, QB Tua Tagovailoa
Jason Pierre-Paul is back.
Pierre-Paul, the veteran pass rusher who signed with the Buccaneers’ practice squad last week, has been elevated to the active roster to play on Sunday against the Panthers.
The 36-year-old Pierre-Paul played defensive end for the Giants, Buccaneers, Ravens, Saints and Dolphins from 2010 to 2023. He was a first-team All-Pro once, a Pro Bowler three times, and a two-time Super Bowl winner.
But Pierre-Paul hasn’t played in an NFL game since December 11, 2023, and it’s surprising that he’s ready to play this quickly. Then again, Philip Rivers hadn’t played in even longer, and got ready to play even faster, when he signed with the Colts last week. Perhaps Pierre-Paul can make an instant impact.
That would be very good news for the Buccaneers, as Sunday’s game is a very big one. The Bucs and Panthers are tied atop the NFC South, so the winner of Sunday’s game moves into first place with two weeks left.
The Buccaneers signed safety J.T. Gray from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Friday.
The Bucs waived rookie linebacker Nick Jackson in a corresponding move.
Tampa Bay signed Gray to its active roster on Nov. 21. A core special teams player, Gray is a first-team All-Pro selection in 2021 as a special-teamer during his seven seasons with the Saints.
Gray made his Bucs’ debut in Week 15 when he was elevated from the practice squad to play against the Falcons. He saw action on 16 special teams snaps and made one tackle.
Jackson originally joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in May. He started the regular season on the Bucs’ practice squad and was twice elevated to the game-day roster.
The Bucs then signed Jackson to the active roster on Dec. 9, and he started against the Falcons two days later. Jackson has recorded one tackle each on defense and special teams.
The Panthers got left tackle Ikem Ekwonu back on the practice field Friday, but his status for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers remains up in the air.
Ekwonu is listed as questionable to play in the battle for first place in the NFC South. He missed the first two days of practice this week with a knee injury and head coach Dave Canales indicated that the team will make a decision about his availability on Sunday.
Wide receiver David Moore (elbow) is also listed as questionable. Moore remains on injured reserve, so the team will need to make a roster move for him to play against Tampa.
Defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) and linebacker Trevin Wallace (shoulder) have been ruled out.
