NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

Despite a hamstring injury putting his status in jeopardy, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans played nearly the entire game against the Saints Sunday. Evans finished with just one catch on four targets, though he did draw a pair of deep pass interference calls, and Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians wants to make sure Evans is more involved going forward. 

“We got to do a better job when we play the Saints of getting Mike in different positions,” Arians said via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I think we let him sit there on the backside too much last week and it’s something we’re going to have to address when we play them later on again. . . . I never want to come out of a game without 10 targets to Mike, at least.”

• Per the Athletic’s Greg Auman, Arians said WR Chris Godwin is now in the concussion protocol after symptoms appeared Wednesday. Godwin was fine Monday and Tuesday after taking a helmet shot on Sunday. 
• Arians downplayed any talk of issues between him and QB Tom Brady after he called him out for both interceptions he threw in the loss to the Saints before later backtracking on one: “Tom and I are fine. I really don’t care what other people think. It’s just what he and I think. … Ain’t nothing to talk about.” (Auman)
• Arians revealed Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater was one of their backup targets at the position this offseason: “He was very, very high on the radar. I’ve always been a big fan of his.” (David Newton)

Falcons

• Per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, Falcons HC Dan Quinn said CB Kendall Sheffield would play a “significant role” when he returns though he didn’t say if that would include starting. 

Panthers

• Per the Athletic’s Joe Person, Panthers DT Kawann Short (foot) and G Dennis Daley (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, while second-round DE Yetur Gross-Matos (eye) was limited. 
• Panthers CB Donte Jackson (ankle) practice in full after leaving Sunday’s game against the Raiders in the first half. (Person)
• Rhule said he’s hopeful Short will be able to go in Week 2: “He finished the game on Sunday and I know he’s doing everything he can to come back.” (Person)
• Rhule had less optimism for Daley, however: “I don’t have much hope that Dennis will play.”

Saints

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Saints RB Alvin Kamara‘s five-year, $75 million deal includes a $15 million signing bonus. His base salaries break out as follows: 

• 2020: $833,000 guaranteed
• 2021: $2 million guaranteed
• 2022: $5 million guaranteed, $6 million roster bonus guaranteed for injury
• 2023: $9.4 million, $4 million of which is guaranteed, plus a $1 million roster bonus guaranteed for injury
• 2024: $10.2 million, plus $1 million roster bonus
• 2025: $22.4 million, plus $2 million roster bonus

Yates adds Kamara has a $100,000 workout bonus and up to $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses in the three years from 2023 to 2025. 

Practically speaking, the Saints can easily walk away from this deal in 2024 when Kamara is 29. There’s little chance he sees the final year of this deal and the $22.4 million salary, making this closer to the deals other backs got this offseason.