Three practices is enough for a 12-year veteran.

Less than a week after Carolina picked him up in a trade with Chicago, the Panthers will start defensive end Jared Allen Sunday against the Bucs.

The night of the deal, coach Ron Rivera implied Allen would be ready to go immediately. Friday, Rivera confirmed the NFL's active sack leader will start opposite Kony Ealy.

"You don't make a move for a veteran guy, in my opinion, without a plan. And we have a plan, as least what we think is a plan, obviously, to play him," Rivera said Friday. "It's what his natural position is. We knew he's smart, he's a veteran guy, he would understand what we're doing, he would grow into that spot immediately, which he did."

Rivera on Wednesday put Allen's potential playing time at 35-40 snaps. Those could come against rookie Donovan Smith, who started at left tackle in the Bucs' first three games. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith has allowed eight quarterback hurries, a sack and taken three penalties. Of 70 tackles, he's rated 67th.

Smith has been dealing with a knee injury this week, and if he can't play, he'll be replaced by Kevin Pamphile, a second-year player who's appeared in 10 games.

Allen, meanwhile, will be making his 176th career appearance. Not only should that experience be beneficial against guys just starting in the league, but it's also a handy addition to what was a young group of pass rushers.

"What's really neat is Wednesday morning, walking into the locker room, he was like the pied piper. You saw the young defensive ends asking him questions," Rivera said. "Then to watch him and his rapport with Charles Johnson and thinking, 'Wow, get those two on the field at the same time and move some guys around.'

"I think with Charles coming back at the right time, and hopefully we'll be hitting the stride at the right time, it could be pretty formidable."