PLAYER NOTES
–DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who is tied for second in the NFL with eight sacks, did not practice Wednesday due to ribs/foot injuries.
–DT Gerald McCoy, who missed the past two games with a calf injury, returned to practice Wednesday but was limited.
–CB M.J. Stewart, the team’s starting nickel defensive back, did not practice Wednesday due to a foot injury and could miss Sunday’s game.
–RB Ronald Jones II is off to a slow start. He has 19 carries for 42 yards on the season and now he has a hamstring injury that could knock him out 1-2 weeks.
–WR Mike Evans has a knee injury and did not practice Wednesday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Chris Godwin has really stepped up his game. The third-round pick from Penn State has worked on his craft and has become of favorite of Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Despite a roster that includes WRs Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson and TEs Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, Godwin is second on the team with 28 catches for 340 yards and a team-leading four TD receptions.
GAME PLAN: The Bucs plan to throw the ball against the Panthers because that’s what they do best. Tampa Bay has the best passing offense and overall offense in the NFL. They believe in Fitzpatrick to get the ball to his playmakers. It’s no secret. The running game with Peyton Barber is an afterthought.
Defensively, Tampa Bay will have its hands full. New defensive coordinator Mark Duffner isn’t sure how to slow quarterback Cam Newton. He can beat you with his arm or his legs. The key will be stopping running back Christian McCaffrey and getting the Panthers in third-and-long situations so they can bring extra pressure on Newton.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey vs. Bucs LB Lavonte David. McCaffrey has really stepped his game up and can run inside as well as out. He leads the team with 423 rushing yards. But David appears up for the task.
–Bucs TE O.J. Howard vs. Panthers LB Thomas Davis. Howard is a great looking NFL player. He He is a tough matchup for any linebacker in the passing game. The former Alabama star has thrived with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback this season. Two of his three TDs came with Fitzpatrick under center.
