Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

Injuries noted

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen McMillan (IR) — The Buccaneers placed McMillan (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Josh Hayes (IR-R) — ir; Mohamed Kamara (IR) — Kamara (knee) reverted to the Buccaneers' injured reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.; Baker Mayfield (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Thumb); practice: Full. Head coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Mayfield (right thumb) is ready for Sunday's game at Carolina, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.; Antoine Winfield Jr. (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Rib); practice: Limited. Winfield (ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Carolina, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.; Emeka Egbuka (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Concussion); practice: Limited. Egbuka (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.; Luke Goedeke (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Calf); practice: Limited. Goedeke (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.; Christian Rozeboom (IR) — Rozeboom (finger) was placed on injured reserve by the Buccaneers on Thursday, Scott Smith of the team's official website reports.

Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu (PUP-R) — Coach Dave Canales said Monday that Ekwonu (knee) is still a considerable time away from returning to action, Mike Kaye of ESPN reports.; Nic Scourton (IR) — The Panthers placed Scourton (knee) on injured reserve Friday.; Chris Brazzell II (IR); Brady Christensen (IR) — The Panthers placed Christensen (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.; Cam Jackson (IR) — The Panthers placed Jackson (shoulder) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.; Jonathon Brooks (IR) — Brooks (core) was seen jogging at practice Thursday, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.; Xavier Legette (IR) — The Panthers placed Legette (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.; Mike Jackson (IR) — Head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Jackson (groin) underwent core-muscle surgery and will be sidelined about eight weeks, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.; Jaycee Horn (IR) — The Panthers placed Horn (quadriceps) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Thomas Incoom (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Calf); practice: DNP. The Panthers placed Incoom (calf) on injured reserve Saturday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.; Jaelan Phillips (Out) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Out (Hamstring); practice: DNP. Phillips (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.; Monroe Freeling (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Knee); practice: Full. questionable; Bam Martin-Scott (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 7: Questionable (Hamstring); practice: Full.

QUARTERBACK

• Baker Mayfield is the projected starting quarterback for TB

  6.41 Y/A

  Through 3 games in 2026, Baker Mayfield threw for 615 passing yards, completed 63.5% of his passes and averaged 6.41 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 3693 yards, completed 63.2% and averaged 6.8 yards per attempt, 26-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 2-2 touchdown-to-interception line is 3 games in. Baker Mayfield is also listed q for this matchup.

• Bryce Young is the projected starting quarterback for CAR

  7.71 Y/A

  Through 5 games in 2026, Bryce Young threw for 1549 passing yards, completed 60.2% of his passes and averaged 7.71 yards per attempt. Last season over 16 games he threw for 3011 yards, completed 63.6% and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt, 23-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 11-2 touchdown-to-interception line is 5 games in.

TRENCHES

• TB: 75.5 rushing yards allowed per game to CAR's 132.2

  56.7 YPG

  Tampa Bay is giving up 75.5 rushing yards a game over 6 games, while Carolina allows 132.2 across 5. Run-defense numbers also depend on game script: teams trailing stop running, so a leading defense can look stingier than it is. For Bucs at Panthers, the ground game is the softer path against Carolina, which matters for Tampa running back yardage.

PASS RUSH

• CAR: 2.4 sacks taken per game to TB's 3.67

  1.27 SACKS

  TB is at 3.67 sacks taken per game over 6 games; CAR is at 2.4 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 2.38 over 17 games and CAR at 2.19 over 17 games.

• CAR: 14.2 sack yards lost per game to TB's 21.2

  7 YDS

  TB is at 21.2 sack yards lost per game over 6 games; CAR is at 14.2 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 15.9 over 17 games and CAR at 16 over 17 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• CAR: 29.2 points per game to TB's 19.8

  9.4 PPG

  Carolina is scoring 29.2 a game after 18.3 last season, while Tampa has dropped from 22.4 to 19.8. That is a big jump for Carolina over five games, and some of it will cool off. Tampa's slide is smaller and over six games, so it looks more like who they are right now. At home, Carolina scoring and Tampa needing to keep pace is the likely shape, but set the total with Carolina's number pulled back toward last season.

• CAR: 68.4 offensive plays per game to TB's 62.8

  5.6 PLAYS

  TB is at 62.8 offensive plays per game over 6 games; CAR is at 68.4 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 62.8 over 17 games and CAR at 59.5 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• CAR: 0.8 turnovers committed per game to TB's 1.83

  1.03 TO

  TB is at 1.83 turnovers committed per game over 6 games; CAR is at 0.8 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 0.94 over 17 games and CAR at 1.35 over 17 games.

• CAR: 0.4 interceptions thrown per game to TB's 1.17

  0.77 INT

  TB is at 1.17 interceptions thrown per game over 6 games; CAR is at 0.4 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 0.65 over 17 games and CAR at 0.71 over 17 games.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• CAR: 5.98 yards per play to TB's 4.7

  1.28 Y/P

  Carolina gains more on every snap, and Bryce Young is pushing the ball downfield: four plays of 20-plus yards in the last game, led by a 32-yarder to Jalen Coker. Last season Carolina sat at 4.92 and Tampa at 5.12, so both teams have flipped, and five or six games is a short window for that kind of swing. At home, Carolina's offense sets the tempo. A bettor should ask whether Tampa can stop the shots to Coker, David Moore and Tetairoa McMillan, or whether this is a game Tampa has to chase.

RED ZONE

• CAR: 66.7% red-zone scoring rate to TB's 47.4%

  19.3 PP

  TB is at 47.4% red-zone scoring rate over 6 games; CAR is at 66.7% over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 54% over 17 games and CAR at 53.3% over 17 games.

• TB: 52.9% red-zone scoring allowed to CAR's 76.9%

  24 PP

  TB is at 52.9% red-zone scoring allowed over 6 games; CAR is at 76.9% over 5 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 24.

• CAR: 4.2 red-zone trips per game to TB's 3.17

  1.03 TRIPS

  TB is at 3.17 red-zone trips per game over 6 games; CAR is at 4.2 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 2.94 over 17 games and CAR at 2.65 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• CAR: 295.6 pass yards a game to TB's 164.8

  295.6 VS 164.8

  Carolina is throwing for 295.6 yards a game over five games, way up from 179.3 last season, while Tampa Bay sits at 164.8, down from 205.9. The Panthers win this game through the air, and the Bucs have to keep pace with an offense that has thrown far less than last year. A jump that large over five games has room to come back down some. Tampa Bay's ability to answer Carolina's passing volume decides the shape of this one.

COVERAGE

• TB: 33.8% third downs allowed to CAR's 42%

  8.3 PP

  Tampa Bay allows 33.8% on third downs over 6 games, and Carolina allows 42% over 5. Third down rates swing in small samples, and five games is not much, so both can drift. Right now Carolina gives opponents more drive extensions. For this game, the Buccaneers offence should sustain drives more easily than Carolina's does.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• TB and CAR are even since 2025

  1-1 SERIES

  This series is split, and both games were tight. Carolina won 23-20 at home on Dec 21, then Tampa Bay edged them 16-14 at home on Jan 3. Each team held serve on its own field, and neither game was decided by more than a field goal. With this one in Carolina, a bettor should expect another low-margin game, where the points on the spread can matter more than picking a winner.

REPLACEMENT

• Taylor Moton (OT) is doubtful for CAR

  DOUBTFUL

  Carolina lists Moton as doubtful against Tampa Bay, and the report gives no injury detail. Doubtful usually means a player will not suit up. Moton is a starting tackle, so losing him puts a backup on the edge against the Buccaneers' pass rush, which matters for the Panthers' quarterback getting time to throw.

• Jonathon Brooks (RB) is on injured reserve for CAR

  IR

  Jonathon Brooks is on injured reserve for Carolina with a core injury, so the running back is not available against Tampa Bay unless the team activates him. Brooks was seen jogging at practice on a Thursday, reported Oct 15, which is an early step in a return. Watch for an activation move before counting on any Brooks workload.

• Thomas Incoom (LB) is on injured reserve for CAR

  IR

  Carolina placed linebacker Thomas Incoom on injured reserve on Saturday with a calf injury, reported Oct 24, so Incoom is out against Tampa Bay. No replacement is named on the report.

• Christian Rozeboom (LB) is on injured reserve for TB

  IR

  Tampa Bay placed linebacker Christian Rozeboom on injured reserve on Thursday with a finger injury, reported Oct 23. Rozeboom will not play at Carolina. No replacement is named, so check the Buccaneers' active linebackers before the game.

• Cam Jackson (DT) is on injured reserve for CAR

  IR

  Carolina moved defensive tackle Cam Jackson to injured reserve on Tuesday with a shoulder injury, reported Oct 14, so Jackson is out against Tampa Bay. With linebacker Thomas Incoom also on IR, the Panthers' front is short two names here. The report does not say who fills in.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Jaelan Phillips

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Antoine Winfield Jr.

  Out

  Rib · Limited practice · Out

• Emeka Egbuka

  Out

  Concussion, Foot · Limited practice · Out

• Luke Goedeke

  Out

  Calf · Limited practice · Out

• Bam Martin-Scott

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Full practice · Questionable

• Baker Mayfield

  Questionable

  Thumb · Full practice · Questionable

• Monroe Freeling

  Questionable

  Knee · Full practice · Questionable

• AJ Dillon

  FP

  Coach's Decision · Full practice

• Bryce Young

  FP

  Full practice

• Sean Tucker

  FP

  Full practice

• A'Shawn Robinson

  FP

  Full practice

• Vita Vea

  FP

  Full practice

• Zyon McCollum

  FP

  Full practice

• Josiah Trotter

  FP

  Full practice

• Darren Waller

  FP

  Full practice

• Cody Mauch

  FP

  Full practice

• Bucky Irving

  FP

  Full practice

• Chuba Hubbard

  FP

  Full practice

• David Sills V

  FP

  Full practice

• Benjamin Morrison

  FP

  Full practice

• Chris Godwin Jr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Riley Dixon

  FP

  Full practice

• Taylor Moton

  FP

  Full practice

• Calijah Kancey

  FP

  Full practice

• Devin Lloyd

  FP

  Full practice

• Chase McLaughlin

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• TB (1-5) at CAR (3-2), a division game

  +42 PT GAP

  Tampa Bay at 1-5 with only a -19 point margin has been losing close games, which makes the record look worse than the play. Carolina has won two straight and is +23 on the year, a sturdier profile than a 3-2 mark suggests. Both teams are 1-1 in this spot, home or road, so the splits add little. Close losses like Tampa's tend to even out, so the gap between these teams may be narrower than the records say.

• TB: 54.8 penalty yards per game to CAR's 83.8

  29 YDS

  TB is at 54.8 penalty yards per game over 6 games; CAR is at 83.8 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 24. Last season TB was at 43.4 over 17 games and CAR at 44.8 over 17 games.

AFTER GARY

• CAR -2.5 → -3

  GARY +0.5

  Gary's number was -2.5; the same book now shows -3.