NFC South

The Carolina Panthers are reportedly optimistic running back Christian McCaffrey will play Sunday despite missing back-to-back practices the last two days with a thigh injury, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

"He's kept it close to the vest, but barring a setback, he should be OK," Rapoport said about the Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

The 26-year-old has had trouble staying on the field over the last few years. After appearing in all 48 games over the first three seasons of his career, he played in a combined 10 games in 2020 and 2021. His 2021 season came to an end after seven games because of an ankle injury after a shoulder problem limited him to three games the previous year.

After entering the league as the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft, the Stanford product quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NFL.

His best season came in 2019 when he recorded 287 carries for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and four more scores. Unfortunately, it hasn't been easy for him to reclaim that form.

The Panthers offense has struggled mightily even when McCaffrey was healthy. The team ranks 30th in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage.

If he is unable to play, second-year speedster Chuba Hubbard is likely to assume the lead back duties for Carolina. Five-year veteran D'Onta Foreman is also set to see more action in the Panthers backfield.

The NFL is going ahead with Sunday night's matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium amid the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

League executive vice president Jeff Miller said on Wednesday that the NFL had chosen U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as a contingency site for the game if it could not be played in Tampa Bay. The Minnesota Vikings are playing the New Orleans Saints in London this week, making the stadium available as a fallback plan.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the many thousands in the Southwest Florida region who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian," the Bucs said in a statement. "We are also very thankful that the Tampa Bay area was spared the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm. We have informed the NFL, after consulting with local and state agencies, that we are ready to play Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled."

The Buccaneers relocated to the Miami Dolphins' facilities to practice this week with Hurricane Ian making landfall on the west coast of Florida.

"It's bigger than just a football team, number one," head coach Todd Bowles told reporters. "Number two, it's just making sure the players' families are safe and the coaches' families are safe and everybody on the staff is safe so they can concentrate on football. So we brought a lot of them down here. Everybody that wanted to come could come, family-wise and otherwise, including pets. We're going to make sure those people are fine first because you really can't concentrate on football without taking care of your family."

For some Buccaneers players, it was a familiar situation.

"I've been through Katrina, as a kid," running back Leonard Fournette said. "I know how severe and serious it is ... I think the Bucs did a great job with evacuating everyone, making sure everybody's families are OK. And I hope you're doing OK too, look like some of you are at home. But I just know how it is ... and I just thank God that we got out there and we're just praying for the families up there in Tampa."

As for the game on the field, a rematch of Super Bowl LV—which the Bucs won 31-9 over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs—is one of the top games on the Week 4 slate. Both the Bucs and Chiefs have started 2-1 and appear to be legitimate title contenders this season.

The two teams will face off on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters running back Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a quad injury and didn't provide answers as to whether he will be ready for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports provided more details:

It’s my understanding there’s more concern around this quad injury than the previous nicks that landed him on the injury report this month https://t.co/1HvJNFQGQb

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 28, 2022

McCaffrey, who is in his sixth NFL season, has amassed 300 total yards and one touchdown in three games. He's rushed for 4.9 yards per carry and caught 10 passes for 57 yards.

The former Stanford star dominated the NFL in 2018 and 2019, posting 4,357 yards and 32 touchdowns. He notably led the league with 2,392 total yards and 19 scores in 2019.

Unfortunately, injuries held him to just 10 games over the next two years. McCaffrey sat due to a high ankle sprain and then a shoulder injury in 2020. Another ankle issue ended his 2021 season prematurely.

The 26-year-old returned healthy for 2022 and played in his first two games, but he landed on the team's injury report in the week leading up to a Sept. 25 matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Officially, the designation was "not injury related—resting player/ankle."

Joseph Person of The Athletic reported that McCaffrey was limited with ankle stiffness, but the running back didn't appear concerned about his Week 3 status and ended up playing in the game.

Christian McCaffrey: “I think at this point if I went to take a leak during practice, I’d end up on the (injury) report.”

Which is to say, he expects to play Sunday despite the ankle stiffness.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 22, 2022

If McCaffrey has to miss any time, the remainder of the Panthers' depth chart at running back consists of D'Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear.

Hubbard, a second-year pro out of Oklahoma State, took over for McCaffrey last year and had 612 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He rushed for 3.6 yards per carry.

Foreman also took over for an injured star RB last year in the Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry (Jones fracture). He ended up with 699 total yards and three touchdowns alongside 4.3 yards per carry.

Blackshear is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Virginia Tech whom the Panthers signed off the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.

The NFL confirmed Sunday's Week 4 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains on track to take place at Raymond James Stadium in Florida despite Hurricane Ian.

Jeff Miller, the league's executive vice president of communications, provided the update Wednesday and noted the Sunday Night Football matchup would be moved to the Minnesota Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium if local authorities determine it should be relocated, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Bucs are spending the practice week at the Miami Dolphins' facilities after they relocated to the southeastern part of Florida on Tuesday.

Hurricane Ian, which has nearly reached Category 5 status, was on track to make landfall on Florida's west coast on Wednesday, according to CNN.

The Weather Channel forecast calls for rain and wind in Tampa on Thursday before conditions start to clear throughout Friday. A mostly sunny weekend is expected.

With weather conditions slated to improve, the ability to play Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium likely depends on the extent of the damage after the hurricane moves out.

"Our thoughts and hearts go out to everybody in Tampa that's still here," Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Wednesday. "Hoping they recover well and it doesn't hit them very hard. That's the biggest thing. What we do is really small entertainment for people that go through a lot of rough things."

It's unclear why the game would be moved to Minnesota over Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 reported Monday the Dolphins' home stadium was made available to the NFL as an option for Sunday night.

The Dolphins are on the road the next two weeks, facing the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets. The next event at their stadium is a college football game between North Carolina and Miami on Oct. 8.

Regardless, U.S. Bank Stadium is also available Sunday with the Vikings in London to face the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL didn't provide a timetable for a final decision about the Bucs-Chiefs game, which features a premier quarterback matchup between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston reportedly isn't practicing ahead of the team's game against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Winston was not spotted at Wednesday's practice session.

Winston is dealing with a back injury, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported Wednesday that the veteran signal-caller is "determined" to play through the injury despite the fact that he is experiencing pain while doing "basic tasks," such as getting in and out of a car.

Winston's health became a focal point of the early season for the Saints when Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported he took the field in a Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with four fractures in his back and was "playing in a lot of pain."

The Florida State product was also limited to just seven games in 2021 because of a torn ACL.

When healthy, Winston's resume includes a 2015 Pro Bowl selection and a 2019 campaign that saw him lead the league with 5,109 passing yards but also 30 interceptions. He has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 858 yards, four touchdowns and a league-high five picks in three games in 2022 while posting a 1-2 record.

If Winston has to miss this week's game against Minnesota or any future games, veteran Andy Dalton is primed to step in.

While Dalton is past his prime that includes three Pro Bowl selections, he is a solid veteran option who can keep the team afloat until the starter is ready to return.

To hear Tom Brady tell it, his finger injury is nothing to worry about.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback discussed his injury on his Let's Go! podcast (h/t Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk) and said "it's doing a lot better" and didn't impact him during Sunday's 14-12 loss to the Green Bay Packers:

"No, it didn't affect it at all. It's doing a lot better than last week. I mean, it was a pretty good swollen finger, but it's just part of the game, and I think there's a lot of bumps and bruises for guys across the league. If it was my left finger it would be totally insignificant. It was my right finger, so just deal with it a little bit. But in the end it really did nothing. I practiced all week. I took every rep in practice and didn't bother me at all in the game."

Of more concern for the Buccaneers in the loss was the wide receiver depth chart.

Mike Evans (suspension), Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) were all out, and the wide receiver position became a real problem when Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage each lost fumbles to stop promising drives.

If either one had ended in a field goal, Tampa Bay may have escaped with a victory.

To Brady's credit, he still managed to lead a 13-play, 89-yard touchdown drive in the game's final minutes while dealing with the lack of weapons and finger situation. The score cut the deficit to two, but Tampa Bay missed the ensuing two-point conversion after it took a delay of game penalty.

Next up for the Buccaneers is a showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Evans will be back from his suspension, and head coach Todd Bowles told reporters he also expects Jones to return. That is welcome news for Brady, who will have better options to throw to even if Godwin doesn't take the field.

And it seems like his finger won't be an issue when he is throwing to those receivers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly heading south to avoid the path of Hurricane Ian.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the NFC South team will evacuate Tuesday with the storm "looming" and practice at the Miami Dolphins' training facility ahead of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The game is scheduled to take place in Tampa Bay. Schefter noted the NFL is monitoring the storm before deciding whether changes need to be made.

While the Dolphins would typically be using their practice facility when the Buccaneers are scheduled to do so, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that will not be an issue because Miami will be in Cincinnati for Thursday's game against the Bengals.

Amir Vera, Holly Yan, Jennifer Gray and Nouran Salahieh of CNN noted Hurricane Ian is a Category 2 storm as of Monday. Hurricane conditions could hit Florida by Wednesday, and forecasters believe there could be winds of more than 111 mph.

Tampa Bay is among the cities that could face damaging winds and storm conditions and is included in the stretch of Western Florida that is under a storm surge warning.

As for football, Sunday's game between the Buccaneers and Chiefs is scheduled for prime time. The national stage is not surprising given the marquee quarterback matchup between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, but the status of the game is up in the air.

It is the second of three straight home games for Tampa Bay, which lost to the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and is scheduled to host the NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.

The Buccaneers are 2-1 on the season.

The New Orleans Saints are off to a disappointing 1-2 start and scored just 14 points in Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers after managing 10 in a Week 2 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but head coach Dennis Allen told reporters he doesn't plan on benching quarterback Jameis Winston for Andy Dalton.

"I think everybody, when you get in these situations, is kind of looking for a place to place blame," Allen said. "There's enough mistakes to go around, I don't really want to go there. I feel confident with Jameis. Certainly, we all need to do better and that's what we're going to do."

It should be noted that Winston is playing at less than 100 percent.

According to the Fox broadcast of Sunday's game (h/t Katherine Terrell of ESPN), the Florida State product is playing with a "transverse fracture" in his back. He said it is causing pain when he applies weight to his back foot, which surely impacts his ability to plant and fire downfield.

He went 25-of-41 for 353 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Panthers and now has four touchdown passes to five picks through three games.

It has certainly been less than ideal for Winston, who returned to the Saints on a two-year deal this offseason after going 5-2 as a starter in 2021 prior to tearing his ACL. Winston's return combined with the return of a healthy Michael Thomas created reason for optimism in New Orleans, but some of that has faded after the slow start.

Thomas left Sunday's contest, and his potential absence could put more pressure on rookie wide receiver Chris Olave as the Saints look to rediscover their form.

While Allen made it clear rediscovering that form won't come by benching Winston, the team could do much worse than Dalton in terms of a backup quarterback. The former Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller is a three-time Pro Bowler and 77-69-2 in his career as a starter.

The 34-year-old is likely past his prime and had eight touchdown passes to nine interceptions in eight games for the Chicago Bears last season, so the Saints likely wouldn't be getting the version of Dalton who led the Bengals to the playoffs multiple times if they made the switch.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have used Rob Gronkowski during Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but fans shouldn't hold their breath for an immediate return if agent Drew Rosenhaus is to be believed.

"I'm not aware of any change yet," Rosenhaus said when discussing a potential Gronkowski return, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. "But you know what my thoughts have been about this all along."

Florio noted Rosenhaus has said in the past he believes the all-time great tight end will play again in the future.

He was specifically asked about it Sunday because JoeBucsFan.com reported Gronkowski was in attendance for Tampa Bay's home opener against the Packers and held "discussions" about a possible return.

Yet it is apparently a "sensitive" subject because signee Kyle Rudolph wasn't activated this season prior to Sunday's game.

Gronkowski's resume includes four Super Bowl titles, four All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods. He led the league with 17 touchdown catches in 2011 and was an impossible matchup in his prime because of his physicality and athleticism.

He appeared in 12 games for Tampa Bay last season and finished with 55 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns.

That type of production was missing in the 14-12 loss to the Packers with Mike Evans (suspension), Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) all sidelined. The Buccaneers couldn't overcome fumbles by Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage, each of which ended promising drives, and failed on a two-point conversion in the final seconds.

Gronkowski may have been targeted for that two-pointer if he was on the field.

Even the greatest quarterback of all time needs players around him.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were facing an uphill battle heading into Sunday's contest against the Green Bay Packers with Mike Evans (suspension), Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) all sidelined, and it proved to be too much to overcome in a 14-12 loss.

All the injuries to Brady's weapons took some of the steam out of the potential NFC playoff preview, and it took a valiant effort from the Tampa Bay defense against Aaron Rodgers and Co. to keep the home team within striking distance for much of the game.

Brady also turned in a valiant effort on the Buccaneers' final drive by marching 89 yards on 13 plays and finding Russell Gage for a touchdown, but they missed the ensuing two-point conversion after taking a delay of game penalty.

Brady finished 31-of-42 for 271 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions in the highly anticipated quarterback battle, and many on social media recognized he wasn't exactly working with a stacked deck:

Russell Gage fumbles. I don't know what Tom Brady is supposed to do.

There's a player every drive screwing something up.

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) September 25, 2022

It’s hard to play QB as well as Brady has played it, and still have zero first half touchdowns this season, but that’s where injuries, penalties and poor play calling have the Bucs. Gut check time at halftime.

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 25, 2022

Tom Brady after dealing with this group of receivers pic.twitter.com/rZ25iKQtki

— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) September 25, 2022

Did the Bucs end up closing as a favorite here? Would be a big head scratcher given that the Packers offense is designed to get the WRs open while the Bucs offens is designed for the WRs to get open themselves (which doesn't work if your best WRs are out)

— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) September 25, 2022

When Brady gets Evans, Godwin and Gronkowski back this offense is going to be humming again https://t.co/D8RtOc9CFP

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) September 25, 2022

Tom Brady trying to fire up the offense on the sidelines.@ErinAndrews pic.twitter.com/0640Al9zNB

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 25, 2022

Buccaneers fumble again, as Russell Gage Jr. has the ball knocked out, recovered by Jarran Reed. Another costly turnover from a Tampa Bay receiver. #GBvsTB

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) September 25, 2022

Quick recap of today's game so far:
- Rodgers happy.

- Brady not as much. pic.twitter.com/ksdHjlItRD

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 25, 2022

Brady to Gronk after this game. pic.twitter.com/5ysYq8Efp6

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 25, 2022

Dang gang, Tom Brady came back from retirement to Evans, Godwin, Gage, & Jones. Just ballers everywhere.

He started down by 8, 89 yards away from the end zone with Beasley, Miller, Perriman & Darden.

Man had to feel like Cuba Gooding Jr after Ricky got shot on Boyz n The Hood! pic.twitter.com/IuVFwSc2aA

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 25, 2022

Tampa Bay's lack of weapons was obvious in the first half when it managed just three points even though Brady was dialed in from an accuracy standpoint with a single incompletion. Breshad Perriman's lost fumble on a promising drive right before halftime proved costly, and the Buccaneers were left with more questions than answers as a result.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Gage's fumble in Green Bay territory ended a scoring chance.

Brady was moving. @tombrady

📺: #GBvsTB on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9MztVgimte pic.twitter.com/IdrawlwS8C

— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022

Brady couldn't even catch a break when he escaped pressure and ran for a first down on a potential third-down conversion, as it was called back for holding. Rodgers' two touchdown passes, both of which occurred in the first half, ended up being enough for the visitors given the situation.

Things don't get much easier for the Buccaneers in Week 4 in another quarterback showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but at least Evans will be back from his suspension.