The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have an opportunity to pick up a game on the first-place Carolina Panthers when they travel to Charlotte in Week 7. 

The Bucs are 2.5 games behind the Panthers. At 1-5, Tampa’s season is on life support, and speculation on which Bucs could be moved before the trade deadline has already kicked into high gear, including star defensive tackle Vita Vea.

If the Bucs want to keep their season alive for at least one more week, they have to find a way to beat the 3-2 Panthers, who have won two straight. 

Tampa released its first injury report of the week on Wednesday, and it is extremely crowded. The Bucs did have a few key players return to practice, but have several others on the shelf with new injuries. 

There also seems to be an illness going around Tampa’s locker room, which is definitely something to monitor as the week goes on. 

Bucs Injury Report

The Bucs listed a staggering 16 players on their injury report Wednesday.

Five players weren't able to practice at all on Wednesday. They are linebacker Christian Rozebloom (finger), wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion, foot), right tackle Luke Goedeke (calf), running back Bucky Irving (illness), and cornerback Zyon McCollum (illness).

Vea got in only a limited practice as part of a rest day. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was also limited, but it was his first practice since suffering the rib injury that has kept him out of Tampa's last two games. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has also caught the bug spreading through the roster, but he was at least able to get in a limited practice.

Eight players were listed on the report despite practicing in full.

As expected, quarterback Baker Mayfield returned to practice for the first time since dislocating his thumb in Week 3. The fact that he was able to get in a full practice bodes well for his chances of returning this week.

Punter Riley Dixon (illness), guard Cody Mauch (wrist), kicker Chase McLaughlin (illness), CB Benjamin Morrison, who has also missed the last two games with a quad injury, LB Josiah Trotter (shoulder), RB Sean Tucker (quad), and David Sills V (hamstring), whose 21-day practice window was opened last week, all practiced in full.

Panthers Injury Report

The Panthers had a total of 10 players on their injury report. Each either practiced in full or didn't practice at all.

The four who got in full practices were RB A.J. Dillon (ankle), tackle Monroe Freeling (knee), LB Bam Martin-Scott (hamstring), and QB Bryce Young (knee).

Running back Chuba Hubbard, LB Devin Lloyd, tackle Taylor Moton, and tight end Darren Waller all got a rest day. OLBs Jaelen Phillips (hamstring) and Thomas Incoom (calf) were unable to practice as well.

The Panthers held only a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their report estimated each player's availability as if the team had a regular practice.