The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t even opened training camp yet, and they’re already in a better spot than the Carolina Panthers.
That matters in a division race that was decided by a single game last season, when Carolina edged Tampa Bay 16-14 in Week 18 to take the NFC South title. The Bucs are trying to flip that result in 2026, and the early signs have tilted their way because the Panthers are getting hit hard by injuries before camp really gets rolling.
Carolina began training camp on July 22 and immediately lost edge rusher Nic Scourton to a torn ACL. He was carted off the field, a major setback for a roster that is already dealing with more problems. Just a day earlier, on July 21, the Panthers announced that right tackle Taylor Morton will miss the start of the season after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung last month.
That’s not the full list, either. Ikem Ekwonu, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III and Jaycee Horn are all set to begin camp on the sideline, whether that’s because they’re on the physically unable to perform list or the non-football illness list.
Tampa Bay, by contrast, is heading into camp clean. The Buccaneers are scheduled to begin on July 28 at Advent Health Training Center in Tampa, Florida, and they’re not dealing with any injuries right now. In a summer where every team wants to stay healthy, that’s a real advantage.
The Bucs know division games are where the work gets done. They went 3-3 in the NFC South last season, and that wasn’t enough. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Tampa Bay went 4-2 in the division, and during those two years the Buccaneers also went 4-0 against the Panthers.
That history gives Tampa Bay a clear idea of what it takes to handle Carolina. And while some of the Panthers’ sidelined players will be back on the field by the time these teams meet, they’ll still be playing catch-up when it comes to getting ready for the season.
For now, the Buccaneers have what every team wants in late July: health, practice reps and a clean runway into camp. Carolina is already fighting through setbacks, and that gives Tampa Bay an early edge in the NFC South race.
In Other News...
Raymond James Lands A Massive College Football Showcase For Tampa
The annual Georgia-Florida rivalry game is headed for a temporary change of scenery, and Tampa is getting a rare turn in the spotlight. With EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville set for renovations, the matchup will move away from its longtime home, giving one of college footballs marquee neutral-site games a different backdrop for the next couple of seasons.
The 2026 edition is expected to land in Atlanta before the series shifts to Raymond James Stadium in 2027, bringing a major showcase to the Buccaneers building. For a game that has long been one of the sports biggest destination events, the stop in Tampa offers a fresh stage while Jacksonville gets its stadium work done. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers May Have One More Move To Fix Their Biggest Weak Spot
Tampa Bay has already done plenty of work to reshape its linebacker room for 2026, bringing in Alex Anzalone and using the draft to add Josiah Trotter. Even with those moves, the Buccaneers still look like a team that could use one more veteran presence at the position, especially after spending the offseason trying to shore up what had become a clear weak spot.
One name now floating into that conversation is a Miami linebacker who fits the kind of role Tampa Bay could still use, particularly if the room remains crowded in South Florida. No deal has been confirmed, but the logic is easy to see from the Buccaneers' side: an experienced defender with coverage ability could give them depth, insurance and a little more certainty if the younger pieces need time to settle in. [Read more 🡒]