The Monday night teams have released their injury listings, and there are some notable ones in there. For the Panthers, they’ll be going without their quarterback, their left tackle and their starting tailback.
That’s Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart and Michael Oher.
Derek Anderson will start at quarterback, and I think he should be serviceable as a passer. There wasn’t any dropoff at quarterback when Newton was knocked out of the Atlanta game. Against a lesser defense, Anderson could finish with above-average passing numbers (but he sure doesn’t run like Newton).
Only Dennis Lyons can say for sure, but Anderson might be the first quarterback to start three straight games against the same opponent. Both of his starts in 2014 came against the Buccaneers.
The Panthers will start Cameron Artis-Payne at tailback. He’s appealing in that Newton isn’t there to potentially run in touchdowns on his own, but Carolina will also use Fozzy Whittaker.
On the Tampa Bay side, they’re going without Doug Martin and Charles Sims. Both of those guys are doubtful and haven’t played all week, so it’s safe to say they ain’t playing.
With that in mind, if you’re looking for a running back to plug in for Week 5, Jacquizz Rodgers is probably the best available option on the waiver wire in your league.
Rodgers (formerly of Atlanta and Chicago) is small and doesn’t have much speed, but when he replaced Sims last week, there wasn’t much change at the position. Rodgers ripped off a couple of nice runs. He’s a good pass catcher, and that’s part a big part of their offense, so a very good change that Rodgers will add 20-30 yards as a receiver.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at CAROLINA PANTHERS
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
OUT: WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring)
DOUBTFUL: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring), RB Charles Sims (knee), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Brent Grimes (hamstring), TE Brandon Myers (hip), C Evan Smith (back), DE Noah Spence (shoulder), S Keith Tandy (calf)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), RB Charles Sims (knee), DE Noah Spence (shoulder), S Keith Tandy (calf)
Friday: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), RB Charles Sims (knee), DE Noah Spence (shoulder)
Saturday: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), RB Charles Sims (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring), TE Brandon Myers (hip), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
Friday: CB Brent Grimes (hamstring), TE Brandon Myers (hip), C Evan Smith (back), TE Luke Stocker (ankle), S Keith Tandy (calf)
Saturday: DE Noah Spence (shoulder), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Saturday: CB Brent Grimes (hamstring), TE Brandon Myers (hip), C Evan Smith (back), S Keith Tandy (calf)
CAROLINA PANTHERS
OUT: CB James Bradberry (foot), DT Vernon Butler (ankle), QB Cam Newton (concussion), T Michael Oher (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Thomas Davis (hamstring), WR Devin Funchess (foot), WR Ted Ginn (foot), DE Charles Johnson (quadricep), RB Mike Tolbert (hamstring)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB James Bradberry (foot), DT Vernon Butler (ankle), LB Thomas Davis (hamstring), DE Charles Johnson (quadricep), QB Cam Newton (concussion), T Michael Oher (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (hamstring)
Friday: CB James Bradberry (foot), DT Vernon Butler (ankle), QB Cam Newton (concussion), T Michael Oher (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (hamstring)
Saturday: CB James Bradberry (foot), DT Vernon Butler (ankle), QB Cam Newton (concussion), T Michael Oher (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Devin Funchess (foot), WR Ted Ginn (foot), C Ryan Kalil (knee), DT Star Lotulelei (shoulder), T Mike Remmers (shoulder), RB Mike Tolbert (hamstring)
Friday: LB Thomas Davis (hamstring), DE Charles Johnson (quadricep), RB Mike Tolbert (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday: WR Devin Funchess (foot), WR Ted Ginn (foot), C Ryan Kalil (knee), DT Star Lotulelei (shoulder), T Mike Remmers (shoulder)
Saturday: LB Thomas Davis (hamstring), WR Devin Funchess (foot), WR Ted Ginn (foot), DE Charles Johnson (quadricep), C Ryan Kalil (knee), DT Star Lotulelei (shoulder), T Mike Remmers (shoulder), RB Mike Tolbert (hamstring)
—Ian Allan
