NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• The Buccaneers worked out WR Brittan Golden on Monday. (Aaron Wilson)

Falcons

Falcons HC Dan Quinn does not believe he’s lost the team, despite another disappointing loss to the Rams on Sunday. 

“I understand why the question — it is a fair question, quite honestly, because you spend most of your time trying to connect and get the team to play the way we are capable of — so the answer I would say is, ‘No,’” Quinn said, via ESPN.com. “But why am I . . . the disbelief at times of not playing like we are capable of, that could be very frustrating. When you don’t do that you want to look and search and find answers, and that’s what I spend most of my time doing: what tweaks, what changes need to be changed — whether that is personnel or scheme, it’s an assistant in play-calling to apply some attention elsewhere, I’m always trying to do something that is best for the team.

“Trust me, my ego is never bigger than the team. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to help get us right.”

Quinn did, however, say that he’s open to getting other coaches involved in their defensive play-calling. 

“First, my job is to look at the big picture and see if there’s things we can do to change that, and we actually started some of that during Arizona last week,” Quinn said. “I’m always looking to see during the game who can help on the play calling and inside of that. We’ve distributed that some in Arizona and this week as well. I’m always looking to do what’s best for the team in every situation, every time. We’ve already begun some of that. ‘How can I apply myself in other ways?’ We’ve certainly done that, too.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes that Falcons DE Vic Beasley and WR Mohamed Sanu are both on the trading block for Atlanta. 
• Breer adds he also thinks the Falcons will listen to offers for LB De’Vondre Campbell and TE Austin Hooper, both who are in the final year of their contracts. 
• Beasley told reporters after Sunday’s game that he hasn’t asked for a trade but if Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff “feel that’s what is needed, I’ll understand.” (D. Orlando Ledbetter)
• Beasley added he feels like he’s let down Quinn: “He’s made some great calls. We just have to execute. He’s making good calls. It’s up to us to execute them.”
• Falcons QB Matt Ryan has a sprained ankle according to Quinn. He won’t practice at the beginning of the week but could play if he’s able to practice later in the week: “We’ll be preparing for both [him playing or not]…If he can’t, that’s the reason Matt Schaub is here.” (Field Yates)
• Falcons OC Dirk Koetter said it would be “premature” to rule Ryan out for this week. (Kelsey Conway)
• The Falcons currently have only 40 players under contract for 2020 and are projected to be $18.3 million over the cap when including draft picks by Over the Cap. (Zack Moore)
• Atlanta could free up $32.125 million in cap space by releasing or trading C Alex Mack, RB Devonta Freeman, Sanu, S Ricardo Allen, S Keanu Neal, and DL Allen Bailey. 
• Falcons RB Ito Smith will miss this week’s game with a concussion. (Conway)
• Quinn said he’s still confident in Falcons K Matt Bryant, who missed a potential game-tying extra point last week and another field goal this week. (Vaughn McClure)

Panthers

• Per the Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, Panthers HC Ron Rivera said the team is hopeful about getting G Trai Turner back from a high-ankle sprain this week but will remain cautious with the injury. 
• He added second-round rookie OT Greg Little remains in the concussion protocol and is still working through it. 
• After missing the past three games with a groin injury, Panthers CB Donte Jackson says he plans to play this week against the 49ers. (Joe Person)
• Rivera mentioned Panthers CB Ross Cockrell has earned a role in the lineup for his play in Jackson’s place even with the second-year corner’s return. (Person)
• Panthers first-round LB Brian Burns said he had a minor wrist surgery over the bye but is “definitely playing” against the 49ers. (Person)

Saints

• Nick Underhill reports that the initial belief regarding Saints CB Eli Apple is that he suffered a hyperextended knee during Sunday’s win over the Bears.