Buccaneers' Anthony Walker: Ruled out for Saturday
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Walker (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game against the Panthers.
Walker tweaked his ankle on the game's first snap and will be unable to return to the contest. Deion Jones will likely help fill the special-teams snaps that Walker was set to play in Week 18.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Walker: Questionable to return with ankle
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Walker (ankle) is questionable to return to Saturday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Walker exited the game after the opening kickoff. If the linebacker's ankle injury ends up being too much to play through, his role on special teams will likely be covered by Deion Jones for the remainder of Saturday's game.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Returns for Week 18
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Kancey (pectoral) is active for Saturday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kancey is set to play in his first game since the Buccaneers' Week 2 win over the Texans, where the defensive end suffered a pectoral injury. The 24-year-old should suit up for rotational snaps with the defensive line behind starters Elijah Roberts and Logan Hall. Kancey logged 7.5 sacks over 12 regular-season games last year, and his return should provide additional depth to the Buccaneers' pass rush.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Activated from IR
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The Buccaneers are activating Kancey (pectoral) from injured reserve to play in Sunday's game against Carolina.
Kancey returned to practice last week and logged his first full session this Thursday. He's been on injured reserve since Week 2, but the Bucs don't have the luxury of easing him into action. Kancey figures to play as many snaps as he can handle with Tampa Bay's season on the line.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Out for Week 18
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Nelson (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Nelson is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a sprained knee suffered in Tampa Bay's Week 16 loss to the Panthers. The 28-year-old is an important part of the Buccaneers' linebacker corps, recording 38 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles over 15 appearances this season. While he's sidelined during Saturday's must-win matchup, expect Chris Braswell to serve as Tampa Bay's top reserve outside linebacker.
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Buccaneers' Benjamin Morrison: Ready for Saturday
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Morrison (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The 21-year-old rookie from Notre Dame upgraded from a DNP on Tuesday to a full practice session Thursday, suggesting he's moved past his hamstring issue in time to play Saturday. Morrison has played well throughout his rookie campaign, recording 24 total tackles and four passes defensed over nine appearances. Now fully healthy, he's expected to operate as one of the Buccaneers' top outside cornerbacks in the Week 18 contest.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Won't play Saturday
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Dean (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The 29-year-old corner didn't practice all week and is now in line to miss his third game of the season Saturday. Dean is a crucial part of the Buccaneers' secondary, recording 46 total tackles, nine passes defensed, including three interceptions, and two forced fumbles across 14 appearances this season. Expect Benjamin Morrison, Josh Hayes and Kindle Vildor to operate as Tampa Bay's top boundary cornerbacks while Dean is sidelined in Week 18, a matchup the Buccaneers must win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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Buccaneers' Benjamin Morrison: Nursing hamstring injury
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Morrison (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Morrison was held out of Tuesday's walkthrough due to a hamstring issue that he likely picked up against the Dolphins in Week 17. He was able to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday, and he would likely avoid an injury designation for Saturday's NFC South tilt against the Panthers if he were to log a full session Thursday. It's unclear whether Morrison's current hamstring injury is to the same leg that caused him to miss three games from Weeks 12 to 14.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Nelson (knee) did not practice Wednesday.
Nelson suffered a sprained knee during the Buccaneers' Week 16 loss to the Panthers. The injury prevented him from playing against the Dolphins in Week 17, and the 2019 fourth-rounder has been held out of each of the first two practices of Week 18 prep. He would need to practice in at least a limited capacity Thursday to have a realistic chance of playing in Saturday's regular-season finale against the Panthers.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Back-to-back DNPs to open week
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Dean (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday.
Dean sustained a shoulder injury during the Buccaneers' Week 17 loss to the Dolphins. He did not work in Tuesday's walkthrough nor in Wednesday's practice, so his participation in Thursday's session will shed clarity on his chances of playing against the Panthers on Saturday. Kindle Vildor could draw the start at outside corner if Dean is unable to play.
Reddick (head) was not listed on Tuesday's practice report, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Reddick left late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Dolphins to be evaluated for a possible concussion. He did not meet the criteria to enter the league's concussion protocol, which puts him on track to play against the Panthers on Saturday. Reddick has accumulated 13 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one forced fumble over his last five games.
Dennis recorded seven tackles (four solo), including one for a loss, during the Buccaneers' 20-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Dennis finished Sunday's game as the Bucs' co-leader in tackles with Antoine Winfield. Dennis has recorded at least seven tackles in four of his last five games, and for the season he has 99 tackles (64 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and five pass defenses (one interception) across 15 games. The Buccaneers wrap up the regular season Saturday against the Panthers, when Dennis will look to crack the tackling century mark for the first time in his three-year NFL career.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Registers seven stops vs. Miami
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Winfield logged seven tackles (two solo) during the Buccaneers' 20-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Winfield was one of three Tampa Bay defenders to play all 55 defensive snaps and co-led the team in tackles with SirVocea Dennis. It was the sixth time this season that Winfield has logged at least seven stops in a game. He's up to 90 combined tackles through 16 regular-season games, and Week 18 against the Panthers presents his final opportunity to crack the tackling century mark for the second time in his six-year NFL career.
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Buccaneers' Haason Reddick: Possible concussion
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Reddick was evaluated for a possible concussion in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Reddick exited the contest late in the fourth quarter, and he was ultimately checked for a concussion. More information on his status will likely come in the near future.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Exits game with shoulder injury
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Dean (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Dean was evaluated by medical staff in the blue medical tent for a shoulder injury. Kindle Vildor will likely see more snaps on defense for as long as Dean is out of the game.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Sidelined for Week 17
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Kancey (pectoral) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The third-year pro from Pittsburgh practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday and Thursday but will remain on the injured reserve list through Week 17. Kancey has played just 69 defensive snaps across two games this season due to a pectoral injury, recording one total tackle. While he remains sidelined Sunday, expect Elijah Roberts and Logan Hall to operate as the Buccaneers' top defensive ends.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Out for Sunday
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Nelson (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The 28-year-old sustained a knee sprain in the Week 16 loss to the Panthers and didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so it's no surprise that he won't play Sunday. While Nelson is sidelined in Week 17, expect Chris Braswell to operate as Tampa Bay's top reserve outside linebacker.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Limited in practice Wednesday
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Kancey (pectoral) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Kancey has been on injured reserve since the Buccaneers' Week 2 win over the Texans. The defensive lineman was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and was immediately able to log a limited practice. Immediate practice participation bodes well for the 24-year-old, but he will likely need to practice fully by Friday to avoid an injury designation and play in Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Resting Wednesday
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David (rest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
David is not listed with the knee injury he overcame before the Week 16 Sunday loss to the Panthers, but the veteran linebacker had an easier day as he rests for Sunday's matchup with the Dolphins. The 35-year-old will likely upgrade to a full participant by Friday, but regardless of his Week 17 practice status, he will probably suit up for Sunday's game barring any sudden injury.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Designated for return from IR
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The Buccaneers designated Kancey (pectoral) to return to practice Wednesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Kancey tore a pectoral muscle Week 2 against Houston and was consequently placed on IR. He was originally expected to be out through the regular season, which may still be the case, though his return to practice Wednesday means he's technically eligible to be activated at any time and could play as soon as this Sunday versus Miami. Kancey recorded 7.5 sacks across 12 regular-season games last year and should provide a boost to the Bucs' pass rush when/if he returns.
