Cade Otton (knee) will not play in Week 17 against the Panthers.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Otton, along with wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring/foot) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) will also miss Week 17's contest. The Buccaneers find themselves in a must-win situation against the Panthers if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive. The absence of Otton and Shepard should lead to an increased target share for Jalen McMillan, who has found the end zone in three straight games, and will also open the door for Payne Durham to make another start. Durham caught 5-of-7 targets for 29 yards in last week's loss to the Cowboys, but will be hard to trust as anything more than a boom-or-bust TE2 against the Panthers.
(Dec 27 -- NBC Sports)

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports "there's optimism" Tee Higgins (ankle/knee, questionable) will play in Week 17 against the Broncos.
According to Fowler, Higgins "improved every day in practice" before drawing a questionable tag on Thursday's final injury report. The Bengals need all hands on deck as they continue to fight for what little playoff hopes they have left. Higgins played through an ankle injury that he suffered late in last week's win over the Browns, and would profile as a WR2 against the Broncos if he's able to suit up.
(Dec 27 -- NBC Sports)

Cade Otton: Won't play Sunday
Coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Otton (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
(Dec 27 -- Rotowire)

Tee Higgins: Optimism for Saturday vs. Denver
Higgins (ankle/knee) has improved throughout the week, and there is optimism he'll be able to play Saturday against the Broncos, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
(Dec 27 -- Rotowire)

Bucs rule out Cade Otton, Antonine Winfield, Sterling Shepard
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles ruled three players out of Sunday's game against the Panthers when he spoke to reporters at a Friday press conference.
(Dec 27 -- ProFootballTalk.com)