On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Carolina Panthers. This important regular season finale will determine the champion of the often overlooked NFC South. The Buccaneers will be without two significant contributors: starting cornerback Jamel Dean and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson are both sidelined for the game.
Dean’s absence follows a poor showing in practice earlier this week. He’s practiced sparingly since with starting practice on Tuesday being the first practice missed and limited on Wednesday. Coach Todd Bowles said Dean took some encouraging first steps, saying that the rookie DB looked pretty spry in practice, “He moved around pretty good today.”
Even with such good news for Dean, Bowles was sure to announce that Dean would not be playing in the upcoming matchup versus the Panthers.
“He’s definitely in play. Obviously we’d have to make some roster moves to get there to make that happen. He had a good week. … He had a very good two weeks. … If he plays, he’ll definitely be on a snap count.” – Todd Bowles
Dean, arguably the biggest player for the Buccaneers’ defense, has been an important force all season long. His lack leaves a big hole in the secondary. That defense will have to rise to the occasion as they get ready to face a talented Panthers offense.
Rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison has already filled in admirably in Dean’s absence. He has begun the last two weeks as injuries have forced fourth round rookie Zyon McCollum to miss action. Morrison, a former second-round pick, has shown amazing persistence. He’s now dealing with a hamstring injury of his own, which puts his effectiveness against the Panthers in doubt.
Even with the NFC South title at stake in this brutal rematch, the pressures and stakes have shocked these two hostile teams into a stupor. Tampa Bay will need to weather these injuries with the utmost caution in order to bring the most competitive roster possible to their division counterpart.
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