On Friday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, inside linebackers Devin White (foot) and Lavonte David (groin) were ruled out, along with cornerback Jamel Dean (foot/ankle) and defensive lineman Mike Greene (calf).
In addition, inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis (illness) was listed as doubtful and receiver Chris Godwin (neck) was given a questionable designation.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are perhaps more hurt than they have been all season heading into Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers.
Almost the entirety of Tampa Bay’s linebacking corps is suffering — both Lavonte David (groin) and Devin White (foot) are ruled out while third-string LB SirVocea Dennis (illness) is doubtful after not practicing for a whole week.
On top of that, wide receiver Chris Godwin re-aggravated a neck injury he’s been dealing with all year and he is questionable for the game after not participating on Friday.
The Panthers have seven players who are questionable, but only three aren’t likely to play — safety Vonn Bell (shoulder) and tight end Hayden Hurst (concussion) have been ruled out while tight end Tommy Tremble (hip) is doubtful.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers due to a neck injury, is likely to play, but the team needs to make sure he feels OK in pregame warmups, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter late Saturday night.
Godwin, 27, has played in all 11 games this season and is Tampa Bay’s second-leading receiver behind veteran Mike Evans. Godwin has 53 catches for 606 yards and one touchdown in his first season with Baker Mayfield as his quarterback.
Last week, in a 27-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Godwin was targeted seven times by Mayfield. He finished with three catches and 45 yards.
Tampa Bay enters Sunday having lost two in a row and six of the past seven. All that said, at 4-7, the Buccaneers are just one game out of first place in the NFC South.
Last month, Godwin was named Tampa Bay’s finalist for the ninth-annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes those who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award was created in 2014 to honor the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr.