NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Redskins

Buccaneers

• Buccaneers WR DeSean Jackson (thumb) said he’s “hopeful to play” in Week 16’s game against the Cowboys. (Rick Stroud)
• Buccaneers placed S Justin Evans and TE Alan Cross on injured reserve. (NFLTR)
• Buccaneers promoted TE Donnie Ernsberger to their active roster.
• Buccaneers signed DE Alec James to their practice squad.

Panthers

Panthers QB Cam Newton admitted that he isn’t sure what’s wrong with his shoulder specifically, but it’s clear that he has a lack of strength in his arm.

“For people who [have] labrum, rotator cuff, just shoulder soreness . . . I wish I could say what the injury is because I don’t really know what it is either,” Newton said, via Pro Football Talk. “No matter how much you push, no matter how much you ice, the anti‐ inflammatory you take. Trust me, I’ve done it. Acupuncture, massages. There’s not a night that goes by without me getting some type of work done on my arm. You just don’t have the strength. From the range of motion, you work on the range of motion then come game time and you never know how the game can play out. Of course you try to stay under 25-30 throws, but if you surpass that or you get hit on it or you have to run or you get tackled and fall on your shoulder, certain things happen. That’s the game of football. As far as stiffness, just muscle tension, there’s a lot going on. At the end of the day it’s not something that hasn’t got worse over the weeks or hasn’t got better over the weeks. It’s just been the same.”

• Panthers HC Ron Rivera said he’d like to see S Eric Reid back with the team next year. (Jourdan Rodrigue)

Redskins

• Redskins S Montae Nicholson was arrested and charged with assault and battery and public drunkenness on Tuesday morning. (NBC Washington)

• The Redskins released the following statement regarding Nicholson’s arrest: “We are aware of the arrest of Montae Nicholson. We are gathering more information and will not comment until we have further details.”
• Redskins promoted DB Harlan Miller to their active roster. (NFLTR)
• Redskins placed DB Joshua Holsey on injured reserve.
• Redskins signed DB Alex Carter, WR Montay Crockett and RB Russell Hansbrough to their practice squad.