NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Seahawks

Buccaneers

• According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin had a procedure Tuesday to remove the pins from his broken finger. 
• Stroud adds CB Jamel Dean has cleared the concussion protocol and will return to practice. 
• Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians said roster math played into the decision to waive WR Jaydon Mickens and promote RB Kenjon Barner. Both are capable of returning kicks: “Rather than having seven receivers and three backs, I’d rather have four running backs.” (Joey Knight)

Panthers

With the Panthers all but eliminated from playoff contention, there’s a school of thought that it would be pointless for RB Christian McCaffrey to return for the final four games of the season. If McCaffrey is injured again, it could even do more harm than good. But Panthers HC Matt Rhule is still trying to win games and as long as McCaffrey is healthy, he says he’ll be out on the field trying to accomplish that goal. 

“I told the team today there’s no agenda other than winning. There’s no, ‘Let’s take a look at this guy, let’s take a look at that guy.’ I want us to win games,” Rhule said via the Athletic’s Joe Person. “If I coach any differently this week because, hey, we’re probably not going to go to the playoffs, what kind of coach does that make me?” he added. “Now, if a guy was in harm’s way, I would understand that. But if someone’s healthy and they’re able to go, then I would think that they would go.”

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, three of the eight players the Panthers placed on the COVID-19 list were positive tests. The other five are close contacts and eligible to come off in time to play Sunday. 
• Pelissero adds no new players tested positive from Monday to Tuesday. 
• The Carolina Panthers hosted three wide receivers for visits on Sunday, according to Albert Breer. The full list of players who visited includes Ventell Bryant, Amara Darboh and Anthony Ratliff-Williams.

Seahawks

• Seahawks’ HC Pete Carroll reviewed their trade for S Jamal Adams at this point in the season: “Ecstatic. Ecstatic about it. He’s been everything we could have hoped for and at this point and he’s gonna keep getting better.” (Curtis Crabtree)
• Carroll also mentioned that he is happy with the play of rookie LB Jordyn Brooks: “Jordyn Brooks really showed up. I think this was by far his best game.” (Crabtree)
• Carroll said that DE Carlos Dunlap, OT Brandon Shell, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, CB Quinton Dunbar, and RB Rashaad Penny should all be returning to practice as full participants this week. (Crabtree)
• Seahawks’ RB Chris Carson is starting to feel confident after his foot injury and is the best he has been this season, according to Carroll: “I think this week is really a time when we have a chance to just cut him loose and he can he can take the full load.” (Crabtree)
• Seahawks’ rookie DE Darrell Taylor got an unspecified injection last week, according to Carroll, who said that it will take a couple of weeks to see what type of results they get from the injection. (Brady Henderson)
• As for DT Bryan Mone, he did not test positive for COVID-19 but was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list despite already being on injured reserve due to the fact that he may have had close contact with someone who did. (Henderson)