The Buccaneers continued to utilize their top four receivers in a variety of packages, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan all seeing between 34 and 42 snaps against Carolina in Week 16. Evans had the most snaps, with 42, and finished the game with five catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs’ offense also got starting tight end Cade Otton back from a one-game injury absence and he went right back to his full-time role, playing 60 of the 64 offensive snaps and catching two passes for 15 yards.
All five of the Bucs’ starting offensive linemen played every snap but the offense did make use of some jumbo packages, with extra tackle Charlie Heck drawing five snaps and rookie lineman Benjamin Chukwuma and nose tackle Vita Vea getting one each near the goal line. Bucky Irving drew the most playing time in the backfield with 40 snaps and produced 71 yards on 19 carries. Rachaad White played 25 snaps and turned his seven touches into 60 yards. Running back Sean Tucker was on the field for just five offensive snaps but he took handoffs on four of them and scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
DL: Elijah Roberts *, Greg Gaines
NT: Vita Vea, Elijah Simmons *
OLB: Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, Markees Watts
ILB: SirVocea Dennis, Deion Jones
ILB: Lavonte David, Anthony Walker, John Bullock *
OLB: Haason Reddick, Anthony Nelson
CB: Jamel Dean, Benjamin Morrison *, Josh Hayes
CB: Jacob Parrish *, Kindle Vildor, J.T. Gray
S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien
S: Tykee Smith, Kaevon Merriweather