Bucs vs. Cardinals Gameday Inactives For Week 13

For the first time in several weeks, the Bucs’ gameday inactives list is more about who isn’t included than who is.

The big concern following Tampa Bay’s Sunday Night Football loss in Week 12 was about the status of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder during the first half of that game. But as the week went on, confidence built within the walls at One Buc Place that Mayfield would be good to go for Sunday’s Week 13 game against the Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium.

Add in the expected return of running back Bucky Irving from foot and shoulder injuries that have kept him out of the last seven games, and you have a recipe for some good vibes in the home locker room at Ray Jay.

There was more good news for the Bucs, too. There were four other players who carried “questionable” tags heading into the weekend: left guard Ben Bredeson (hamstring), outside linebackers Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) and Anthony Nelson (ribs) and cornerback Jamel Dean (hip). But when the inactives list was released 90 minutes before kickoff on Sunday, none of them were on it, meaning all four players are good to go as Tampa Bay looks to stop its three-game losing streak and get back in the win column for the first time since Oct. 26.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles had already ruled out rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and safety Rashad Wisdom (quad), who just opened his 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve. Wisdom doesn’t count toward the roster since he has yet to be activated from injured reserve, so joining Morrison on Sunday are safety Kaevon Merriweather, guards Luke Haggard and Elijah Klein, defensive lineman Elijah Simmons and third quarterback Connor Bazelak.

Cardinals Get Good News Ahead Of Game vs. Bucs

The visiting Arizona Cardinals got their own good news ahead of Sunday, too. In particular, running back Bam Knight (knee) and No. 1 wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendectomy) are both a go for this Week 13 matchup.

Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

But Arizona is still missing its share of guys as it looks to stop its own three-game losing streak. Lead running back Emari Demercado (ankle) was already ruled out ahead of the weekend, as were right guard Will Hernandez (hip/knee), defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (knee) and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle). So, there was less intrigue for the Cardinals when their inactives list was released.

Also included were cornerbacks Max Melton (heel) and Elijah Jones and left guard Hayden Conner.

Kickoff for Sunday’s game between the Bucs and Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. This is the first of three straight home games for Tampa Bay, with New Orleans in town for Week 14 and Atlanta visiting in Week 15 for Thursday Night Football and the annual creamsicle game.