Carolina Panthers: Week 17 inactives vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Carolina Panthers have released its Week 17 inactives list ahead of Sunday’s major divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It was announced Friday that star cornerback Jaycee Horn will not play against the Buccaneers. Horn, who just missed out on the Pro Bowl this year, has been dealing with a wrist injury.

The former South Carolina star had surgery earlier in the week. Interim head coach Steve Wilks said they’d re-evaluate his condition in 10-12 days, which leaves the possibility of the regular season finale open against the New Orleans Saints.

Carolina has a huge matchup in front of them Sunday. The Panthers will look to secure their seventh win of the 2022-2023 season. The win would put Carolina in first place in the NFC South race, overtaking the 7-8 Buccaneers. Next week’s regular season finale vs. the Saints would be the deciding game to decide the division leader.

Horn’s Week 18 status will be predicated on whether or not the Panthers are in playoff contention this time next week, per the team’s website.

That doesn’t bode well for Tom Brady and the Bucs. After a 2-7 start to the year, Carolina has won three of its last four and is playing its best football of the season heading into Sunday.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET live from Tampa on Fox and NFL+. The Buccaneers are 3.5-point favorites ahead of the opening kick, but ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Carolina the slight edge with a 50.7 percent chance of winning.

Find out who’s in and who’s out for Sunday’s divisional matchup below:

Panthers:

• CB Jaycee Horn
• WR Rashard Higgins
• S Juston Burris
• C Sam Tecklenburg
• T Larnel Coleman
• DE Amare Barno

Buccaneers:

• TE Cameron Brate
• CB Carlton Davis
• OLB Carl Nassib
• WR Breshad Perriman
• QB Kyle Trask