TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially ruled out only one player -- receiver Cecil Shorts III -- for Monday night's matchup against the Carolina Panthers, but the team's injury situation is looking rather grim.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin and Martin's replacement, Charles Sims, were all listed as doubtful on the Bucs' final injury report Saturday. All three did not practice this week and, barring a miraculous recovery, aren't expected to play.
"Injuries are a rough part of this game," coach Dirk Koetter said Saturday. "They're no fun, especially for the players. The rules are the rules. They're the same for everybody and we're gonna be ready. The guys that we put out there, they're gonna play their tails off."
McCoy suffered a calf injury during the first half of the Bucs' 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos last week, while Sims suffered a knee injury. Martin has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury, as has defensive end Robert Ayers, who had 9.5 sacks last season. Ayers is also officially listed as doubtful.
To make matters worse, starting nose tackle Clinton McDonald, who replaced McCoy against the Broncos at 3-technique last week, sat out practices Friday and Saturday with a hamstring injury and is officially listed as doubtful. He suffered cramps in Sunday's game, and was a limited participant in Thursday's padded practice.
Rookie defensive end Noah Spence, who suffered a dislocated and partially torn labrum in his shoulder against the Broncos, is listed as questionable. The 2015 second-round draft pick missed Tuesday, Thursday and Friday practices this week before testing out the shoulder Saturday. He was lined up doing special teams work during the 30-minute portion of practice that was open to the media.
Koetter believes it being a Monday game may help some players return.
"More than anything, some extra recuperation time -- in essence, we did play like a Sunday night game because we got done so late -- so the extra day for our banged-up guys is what helps the most," Koetter said.
If McCoy, McDonald and Spence can't play Monday, that would leave William Gholston as the only regular starting defensive lineman. To account for those potential losses, the team added former New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns defensive tackle John Hughes this week.
At running back, Jacquizz Rodgers, who signed with the team after the first week of the season, is expected to start, and Koetter is confident he can carry the load.
"Extremely," said Koetter, who worked with Rodgers for three seasons in Atlanta. "I've seen him do it.. Jacquizz will have no problems. He'll do fine."
Rodgers is confident he can come through too, even if he has started only five games in six seasons.
"Every running back should feel that way," Rodgers said. "If you practice like that No. 1 guy, and when you're opportunity comes, you'll just be ready."