NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Julio Jones' knee injury is a partially torn PCL.

Per Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (h/t Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus), Jones' injury doesn't require surgery. However, Jones is inactive for the Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after being a game-time decision.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles told reporters after Sunday's 14-12 loss that Jones could've played this week but the team held him out. Bowles added Jones will "probably be back next week."

Jones also sat out the team's Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints with the injury.

The first game Jones played for the Buccaneers was a success. He looked spry with 86 total yards, including a 48-yard jet sweep in the team's 19-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Jones, 33, saw a significant chunk of his 2021 season with the Tennessee Titans sidelined by injuries and a stint on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list.

When he was healthy, the production on the field was disappointing, as he posted just 31 receptions for 434 yards and a touchdowns in 10 games.

And after registering at least 1,100 receiving yards in seven of his first nine seasons in the NFL—including six straight seasons eclipsing that mark and three seasons with 1,500 or more receiving yards—Jones has failed to reach 800 receiving yards in each of his past two seasons.

Injuries also limited him in 2020 to just nine appearances.

It's possible that Jones is nearing the end of what has been an incredible career. Certainly, his one season in Tennessee didn't go as planned. Nonetheless, the Bucs brought him aboard this offseason to serve as depth behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage.

Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will have to navigate a depleted receiver room in Week 3. In addition to Jones being a game-time decision, Godwin has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and Evans is serving a one-game suspension for his role in a fight with Marshon Lattimore in Week 2.

Cole Beasley, who was signed to the practice squad Tuesday, was elevated to the active roster and will likely play against the Packers.

Even after an 0-2 start for the Carolina Panthers, head coach Matt Rhule reportedly isn't on the hot seat.

"Sources informed of the Panthers' thinking say no change is imminent for Rhule, with Panthers owner David Tepper planning to be patient rather than reactionary," Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported. "But wins must come and improvement must be evident."

According to Rapoport, the Panthers' leadership sees the locker room believing in Rhule with clear fight and effort displayed on the field.

This comes despite Rhule falling to 10-25 in his third season with the Panthers after signing a seven-year deal with the team in 2020.

After earning just five wins in each of the first two seasons, Rhule has few excuses after a poor start to 2022. The organization acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield to help improve the offense, but the unit ranks just 29th in total yards this year.

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reported it's "increasingly difficult to fathom" Rhule remains with the team much longer. Multiple coaching agents expect the Panthers job to be the first one open this year.

Rhule told reporters after the last game the Panthers are "close" and that they are trying to "get over that last hump."

Some players have also come to his defense, including receiver Robby Anderson.

"I'm playing this game for Coach Rhule more than anything," Anderson said of the team's Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

It's enough for the Panthers to keep the current course, with Rapoport noting that "it would take an epic collapse or a horribly embarrassing outcome" to make a change.

With just two wins in the last 14 games, Rhule still must find a way to turn things around in Carolina.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady broke two Microsoft tablets during his tirade on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

A third tablet was also broken on the team's sideline.

Brady was captured on camera throwing a tablet for the second-straight season against the Saints:

The Microsoft tablet might want to sit out the next Tom Brady plays the Saints. pic.twitter.com/l062fvG9aZ

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) September 18, 2022

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports said that Brady's actions prompted a memo from the NFL to all 32 teams, warning them about punishments for breaking the tablets and other league-issued equipment, via Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus.

The quarterback joked about breaking the tablet during a radio appearance on Monday.

"I've had a pretty bad record against that tablet, unfortunately," Brady told broadcaster Jim Gray. "I think I forgot the password and I couldn't log in, so those things can be frustrating.

"Unfortunately, the tablet just happens to get in the way, and obviously that's the reason things weren't going great (against the Saints), so I had to take it out on poor meaningless tablet."

After the previous incident last year, Brady told Gray that he got a "warning" from the NFL that he would get fined in the future.

"I won't throw another Surface," he said at the time.

Breaking multiple tablets on the sideline might now be enough to earn discipline from the league.

Brady's last fine from the NFL came in 2013, giving up $10,000 after kicking Baltimore Ravens star Ed Reed. He avoided a potential penalty in the playoffs last year despite earning an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for an interaction with a referee.

Meanwhile, the 45-year-old has vowed to control his emotions better during games.

"I can always obviously do better as a quarterback and, yeah, not let my emotions get the best of me," Brady told reporters Friday. "Sometimes they do. It's an emotional sport. It's an emotional game, and we're all out there trying to do the best we can do."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is no stranger to destroying a tablet or two on the sidelines during games, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion admitted this week that he needs to do a better job of controlling his emotions.

Brady said, per ProFootballTalk's Myles Simmons:

“I can always do better. I can always obviously do better as a quarterback and, yeah, not let my emotions get the best of me. Sometimes they do. It’s an emotional sport. It’s an emotional game, and we’re all out there trying to do the best we can do.

“And you’re right, I think there’s a frustrating part for all of us when you get a little older and you expect it a certain way and it doesn’t go exactly the way you want. But that’s it, that’s the way it is, and I’ve got to do a good job as a leader to be at my best regardless of how I feel about a certain situation.”

Brady was captured on camera throwing his tablet in frustration during a Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints. During the 2021 season, he was also caught tossing his tablet in a game against the Saints.

The Microsoft tablet might want to sit out the next Tom Brady plays the Saints. pic.twitter.com/l062fvG9aZ

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) September 18, 2022

During Sunday's game, Brady and the Buccaneers were held off the scoreboard heading into the third quarter. The veteran's frustrations were understandable given the fact the offense couldn't get anything going, though we haven't seen many quarterbacks hurl their tablet like Brady has.

Speaking on his Let's Go! podcast (h/t Jeremy Layton of the New York Post) with Jim Gray this week, Brady joked about the incident:

“I’ve had a pretty bad record against that tablet, unfortunately. I think I forgot the password and I couldn’t log in, so those things can be frustrating. Unfortunately, the tablet just happens to get in the way, and obviously that’s the reason things weren’t going great yesterday, so I had to take it out on the poor, meaningless tablet.

“I’m trying to make sure I don’t throw my arm out when I throw it, but I was pretty pissed yesterday. Until I get it right, I’m going to keep doing it. Obviously, with repetition being the key to success, I gotta get the perfect tablet slam, which I haven’t got yet. Tune in next week to see if it happens.”

Brady is one of the most competitive players in football and he's gunning for his eighth Super Bowl title this season with retirement inching closer. So emotions will probably continue to run high for the signal-caller this year.

The Buccaneers are 2-0 entering a Week 3 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. It's reasonable to believe we could see another tablet slam this weekend in what should be a highly competitive matchup.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady's finger injury doesn't seem like it's going to be an issue going into Week 3.

Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Brady had no problem with his finger during Friday's practice and he's "ready to go" after taking every rep.

ESPN's Jenna Laine confirmed Brady will play Sunday despite being added to the team's injury report Friday.

It's unclear exactly what happened to Brady's finger. He was seen shaking his throwing hand at times after suffering an apparent injury vs. the New Orleans Saints.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week about the issue, Brady said he feels "great." The Bucs haven't listed their star quarterback on the injury report.

Brady and the Bucs offense are off to a slow start through two games this season. He is completing 59.0 percent of his attempts with 402 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Injuries have been a big problem for Tampa's offense early in the year. Chris Godwin and Julio Jones missed the Week 2 win over the Saints. Both players missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

The 45-year-old quarterback has been pretty durable throughout his 23-year career, appearing in at least 15 games in all but three seasons. He only missed significant time because of injury during the 2008 campaign.

Brady appeared in just one game during the 2000 season as a backup to Drew Bledsoe. In 2008, he appeared in just one game before suffering a torn ACL and missing the remainder of the season.

The three-time MVP then missed four games in 2016 following a suspension for the Deflategate scandal.

Brady is aiming to win his eighth Super Bowl this year and his second with the Buccaneers. If he's sidelined for long, that dream may not become a reality.

Despite their struggles on the offensive end, the Bucs are off to a 2-0 start heading into Sunday's marquee matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has his team atop the NFC South with a 2-0 record entering Week 3, and he told reporters Thursday that he's feeling "great" despite dealing with an apparent finger injury.

“I feel great," Brady said. "It’s football season, so … yeah."

Brady has not been listed on the injury report this week.

However, he acknowledged on his Let's Go! podcast with Jim Gray (h/t Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times) that the ring finger on his throwing hand is sore after a mismanaged exchange with center Robert Hainsey during the team's Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints.

"I banged it up pretty good, but it didn’t affect me at all in the game," Brady said. "It’s just going to be sore throughout the week, but one of those bumps and bruises that come along with playing."

Brady added: "You get hit, you get kicked, you get kneed. All these things come up, and it’s demolition derby out there. It’s who can recover fast enough in order to put yourself in position to practice, prepare and then go play well the next week."

The 45-year-old completed 18-of-34 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown against the Saints. He hadn't thrown for less than 200 yards in a game since December 2020.

While Brady intends to take every Wednesday off from practicing this season for extra rest, he appeared at Tampa Bay's mid-week practice this week. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the veteran "felt good enough to physically participate."

That would seem to indicate that Brady's finger is feeling fine. However, the Buccaneers have a huge game coming up against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, so he likely wanted to get in some extra reps this week ahead of an important NFC matchup.

Through two games, Brady has completed 36-of-61 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. It's not exactly an ideal start to the season for the seven-time Super Bowl champion, but his team is 2-0, and that's all that matters.

After facing the Packers on Sunday, the Bucs will face another tough opponent Oct. 2 in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. So, there's probably not going to be much rest for Brady moving forward.

The Carolina Panthers named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback over Sam Darnold this summer, but the franchise finds itself in an 0-2 hole entering a Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

When asked to assess his performance while meeting with reporters on Wednesday, Mayfield said that he has "not been good enough," via ESPN's David Newton.

He added: "I only care about winning, no matter what my stats are. I haven’t taken care of the ball well enough. That’s pretty much the only stat I care about."

"I've got to command this group better. I have to lead better, I have to make sure everybody's on the same page to where we are executing at a much higher level," Mayfield said. "That's the biggest disappointment for me is that hasn't shown yet. So I take full ownership for that as an offense."

The Panthers acquired Mayfield in a trade with the Cleveland Browns in hopes he would be able to help the franchise turn things around. However, he's struggled mightily in his first two games under center, and he's making many of the same mistakes he did in Cleveland.

The 27-year-old has taken unnecessary risks, fumbled five times and has struggled to connect with wide-open receivers—former Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. knows a little about that.

In addition, he has completed just 53.6 percent of his passes, which ranks 34th in the NFL, for 380 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in two games. His 190 passing yards per game ranks 26th in the league and his 6.8 yards per attempt ranks 19th, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

In addition to Mayfield's struggles, the offense as a whole has struggled to find consistency, and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is also receiving some of the blame for that.

For instance, there's a big problem when D.J. Moore, who signed a lucrative three-year extension during the offseason, and second-year receiver Shi Smith are being targeted the same amount of times in a game, as they were in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants.

It's also a problem when both players received more targets than dual-threat running back Christian McCaffrey.

So, while Mayfield needs to undoubtedly up his game, it seems the Panthers offense as a whole also needs to figure things out in order to get into a rhythm.

Christian McCaffrey is flirting with injury again. But this one doesn't appear likely to cost him playing time.

According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the superstar running back is dealing with a bum ankle but expected to play this week:

RB Christian McCaffrey showed up on the injury report. He was limited with stiffness in his ankle. Team said he should play Sunday against the Saints.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 22, 2022

McCaffrey isn't sweating the injury:

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

The 26-year-old has seen each of his previous two seasons impacted by injury. In 2020, he played in just three games while dealing with a high-ankle sprain and shoulder issue. And he missed 10 games last season with an ankle problem that cut his campaign short.

It's been a major disappointment for a player who emerged as the NFL's most dynamic offensive playmaker in 2019, rushing for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 116 catches for 1,005 yards and another four scores.

When healthy, McCaffrey is the complete offensive weapon, and the Panthers rewarded him with a four-year, $64 million extension in April 2020. Since signing, though, he's only played in 10 of a possible 33 games.

In turn, the Panthers have only won five games in each of the past two years.

If McCaffrey is forced to miss time at some point, look for Chuba Hubbard or D'Onta Foreman to step into the starting role. Hubbard was serviceable in McCaffrey's absence last season, rushing for 514 yards and four touchdowns in 10 starts.

Amid a slew of injuries on offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are searching for answers after scoring just three touchdowns in their first two games.

Speaking to reporters about the offense's slow start, Tom Brady said their responsibility is "to reach a higher level" going forward.

The Bucs are off to a 2-0 start thanks largely to their defense. The unit has allowed a total of 552 yards and forced six turnovers in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

There were concerns coming into the season about what the offense would look like. Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen is currently on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered during training camp. Left guard Aaron Stinnie's season ended in August due to a torn ACL and MCL.

In their Week 1 win over the Cowboys, Chris Godwin was limited by a hamstring injury. He wound up sitting out last week's game vs. the Saints. Julio Jones sat out Week 2 with a knee injury.

Godwin and Jones missed Tampa's first practice this week and their status for Sunday is unclear at this point. Mike Evans is suspended for Week 3 due to his on-field altercation with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

All of this has resulted in the Buccaneers' offense racking up just 607 yards and 39 points through two games. The team has a total of three touchdowns, with the defense scoring on Mike Edwards' 68-yard pick-six off Jameis Winston.

Brady has thrown for fewer than 225 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since Week 14 and 15 of the 2019 season. The five-time Super Bowl MVP led the league in pass attempts (485), completions (719), yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43) in 2021.

Per Football Outsiders' DVOA metric, the Bucs have the sixth-worst offense in the NFL through the first two weeks. They ranked first in that category last season.

Despite these problems right now, the Buccaneers can start 3-0 for the first time since 2005 with a win on Sunday. They are hosting the Green Bay Packers in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2020 NFC Championship Game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Cole Beasley told reporters that he contacted quarterback Tom Brady numerous times before signing with the Bucs' practice squad Wednesday.

New #Buccaneers WR Cole Beasley, asked if Tom Brady recruited him, said: “To be honest, I was hitting him up a lot.”

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) September 21, 2022

Beasley also noted that he's been eager to play with Brady.

#Bucs WR Cole Beasley said “I’ve been wanting to play with (Tom) Brady for a long time.” He said he slid into Brady’s DMs on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/4TRk3EnMqN

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) September 21, 2022

The 33-year-old has played 10 NFL seasons—seven with the Dallas Cowboys and three with the Buffalo Bills. He caught 82 passes for 693 yards and one touchdown for Buffalo last season.

The Buccaneers are short-handed at wide receiver.

Mike Evans is suspended for the team's game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after knocking over New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore during Tampa Bay's 20-10 win Sunday.

Chris Godwin, who is coming back from a torn ACL that ended his 2021 season, missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury suffered in a 19-3 Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Julio Jones sat out Week 2 with a knee injury.

The Bucs still have Russell Gage, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden and Breshad Perriman, but they needed depth.

Enter Beasley, a steady possession receiver who was one of Bills quarterback Josh Allen's top targets.

It doesn't appear that Beasley will be on the practice squad for long, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

News from @gmfb: The #Buccaneers are signing veteran WR Cole Beasley to their practice squad with the expectation he’ll be elevated to the active roster soon, source says.

Tom Brady pushed to bring in another veteran pass catcher and has had Beasley on his radar for a while. pic.twitter.com/dTBH64cgyR

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 20, 2022

Beasley also was confident he can pick up the team's offense before the Packers game.

Beasley says he can pick up the offense by Sunday when #GoBucs host the #Packers

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) September 21, 2022

The Bucs are one of just six remaining undefeated teams.