NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers

Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard had a not-so-typical play on Sunday, but it led to the type of day that’s becoming all too typical for him in 2019. The former first-round pick dropped a pass that ended up being bobbled behind him and then intercepted. Howard went to the bench after that and only ended up playing 17 snaps, which coincidentally is the same number of catches he has this year. 

“I had it and I tried to cut upfield and then next thing I know the ball gets loose and I start bobbling it and it gets behind me some kind of way, which is crazy,” Howard said via Eduardo Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. “It all happened too fast.”

• According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, the Buccaneers with HC Bruce Arians and OC Byron Leftwich are seen as a potential fit for free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick. 
• Arians says Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston sprained his ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. (Greg Auman)
• Winston is expected to play this week against the Falcons. (Rick Stroud)
• Buccaneers DE Carl Nassib tweaked his groin injury in practice last week and is hoping to return to practice this week. (Scott Smith)
• Buccaneers DE William Gholston has a foot injury and was in a walking boot in the locker room. (Auman)

Falcons

• According to Pro Football Talk, Falcons QB Matt Ryan credited the decision not to fire HC Dan Quinn as the reason the Falcons have rattled off a two-game winning streak. 
• Quinn said he hasn’t discussed with owner Arthur Blank what exactly he needs to do to avoid being fired after the season. (Vaughn McClure)
• Quinn told reporters Falcons RB Devonta Freeman and TE Austin Hooper were trending up, but if they didn’t return to practice later this week they wouldn’t play. (Kelsey Conway)
• Falcons DE Adrian Clayborn hurt his groin late in Sunday’s win against the Panthers. (D. Orlando Ledbetter)

Panthers

Panthers QB Kyle Allen has cooled off since a hot start to the season. But on Sunday his performance completely nosedived in an abject, four-interception performance. Panthers HC Ron Rivera said the team plans to stick with Allen going forward, partly due to the lack of other options on the roster and partly due to a desire to continue to develop Allen. 

“It’s tough,” Rivera said via the Athletic’s Joe Person. “It’s a fine balance with the development [of QBs] when you’ve got two of them.”