With wide receiver DeSean Jackson now nursing an Achilles strain, he could be replaced by rookie Justin Watson Sunday against the Falcons.
PLAYER NOTES
–WR DeSean Jackson, who returned at Dallas Sunday after missing three games with a hand injury, has an Achilles strain and did not practice Wednesday.
–DE Carl Nassib has a shoulder injury and did not participate in practice on Wednesday.
–T Demar Dotson has a knee injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday.
–DT Gerald McCoy was limited in practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury.
–DE Jason Pierre-Paul was limited with knee/shoulder injuries in practice Wednesday. He is expected to start his 16th game.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: TE Cameron Brate’s numbers are down this year, and it’s clear that his role in the team’s offense has diminished because of this year’s emergence of second-year tight end O.J. Howard as well as a bevy of wide receiver options that make it difficult to spread the ball around. Head coach Dirk Koetter said that Brate has been dealing with an undisclosed injury since the beginning of the season, adding that it has played a factor in Brate’s pedestrian numbers this season.
“Cam has been playing hurt all year,” Koetter said. “He hasn’t been healthy from Day 1. He’s done an unbelievable job of fighting through it. He’s another guy who if you knew the amount of rehab Cam does on a daily basis just to be able to play, it’s pretty remarkable that he’s been able to play at all.”
Koetter wouldn’t reveal any more information about the nature of Brate’s injury or whether it will require surgery after the season is over.
“There will probably be more information on that after the season is over,” Koetter said. “But I think Cam, when he gets healthy again, will return to form very quickly.”
Brate hasn’t been listed on any recent injury reports, which is an indication that it hasn’t hindered his ability to be a full participant in practice.
GAME PLAN: The Bucs and Falcons know each other well. These games are typically high-scoring because both teams want to attack vertically. Tampa Bay’s offense has not been as effective in the red zone as of late, and it was an interception in the end zone in their first meeting that doomed Jameis Winston and the Bucs.
Last week, Winston did a good job of taking what the Cowboys defense gave him. He checked the ball down 13 times, which is probably the most in his career. Expect the Falcons to play a lot of two-deep zone and keep the ball in front of them.
Defensively, the Bucs have played much better of late, although not against the run. Quarterback Matt Ryan will face a better pass rush than the one he remembered earlier this season led by Jason Pierre-Paul and Carl Nassib.
Look for the Falcons to try to be more balanced by running the football.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Falcons WR Julio Jones vs. Bucs CB Brent Grimes. Jones has had some monster games against the Bucs in his career. He did not practice Wednesday due to hip and rib injuries. Grimes could be playing his final NFL game and does not have an interception.
–Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Falcons CB Desmond Trufant. This is one of the better battles in the NFC South. Evans needs five receiving yards to tie the club single-season record of 1,422 held for 29 years by Mark Carrier.
