FRIDAY'S INJURY REPORTS

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS

 

OUT

 

RB Jonathan Stewart (foot)

Mid-week optimism turned more realistic as the days went by. There's no reason to risk your best back before the playoffs.

"It got better, but not enough," coach Ron Rivera. "Do you expose him now or not? Honestly, no, you don’t."

Since the NFL doesn't include postseason numbers in yearly stats, Stewart will finish 11 yards short of what would have been his second 1,000-yard season.

 

RB Fozzy Whittaker (ankle)

The Panthers are hopeful he can return in two weeks for the Divisional Round. 

With Whittaker out, undrafted rookie Brandon Wegher will be the deep man on kickoff returns. The last time he returned a kick was as a freshman at Iowa in 2009. 

 

DOUBTFUL

 

WR Ted Ginn (knee)

Rivera wasn't concerned on Thursday when asked about Ginn's status, but the speedster missed his third straight practice Friday. 

"It didn't come around as I had hoped or was expecting it to," Rivera said. "It's not fair for me to be that way, but you know me, I'm optimistic."

If Ginn doesn't play, Brenton Bersin will be active for the first time since Week 12. He'll also be the second choice on punt returns, behind Robert McClain. The cornerback returned 19 punts for Atlanta in 2013 and he had 23 chances while in college at Connecticut. 

"I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity I have, whether it's on defense, special teams. I'm not going to complain about anything," said McClain, who hasn't played on defense since signing with the Panthers in mid-December. "I'm just thankful to be in the spot I'm at and thankful that I'll have the opportunity to hopefully return this Sunday."

 

S Kurt Coleman (foot)

Since Coleman has missed just eight snaps during his first season in Carolina, it's a bit surprising he'll likely sit this one out. But while the Panthers want to lock up home-field advantage with a win, the bigger picture is ... bigger.

"It is about winning, but which one do you want to win more?" Rivera said.

If Coleman isn't out there, Tre Boston will make his first start of the year. 

"To lose (Coleman), I'm going to try to make sure it's not big," said Boston, who started five games as a rookie. "Make sure I can do what I did last year when I stepped on the field and even this year when I stepped on the field."

 

PROBABLE

 

LB David Mayo (hamstring)

C Ryan Kalil (illness)

LB Thomas Davis (illness)

DT Star Lotulelei (illness)

 

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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

 

OUT

 

S Chris Conte (knee) - injured reserve

 

PROBABLE 

 

DL Da'Quan Bowers (non-injury) 

FB Jorvorskie Lane (illness) 

G Logan Mankins (knee)

CB Sterling Moore (ankle)

DE William Gholston (hip) 

DE Kourtnei Brown (groin)