Buccaneers will be without TE Otton vs. Cowboys

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will beryllium without their apical tight end, Cade Otton, erstwhile they look the Dallas Cowboys Sunday.

Otton, who suffered a knee wounded past week successful the Bucs' 40-17 triumph astatine the Los Angeles Chargers, was downgraded to retired Saturday and did not make the travel pinch the squad to Arlington, Texas.

Otton's 600 receiving yards are seventh astir successful the convention among tight ends entering Week 16. His 59 receptions are besides seventh most.

He ranks 2nd connected the squad successful receiving yards down five-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans and played a cardinal domiciled successful the passing crippled erstwhile Evans missed 3 games pinch a hamstring wounded and Chris Godwin was mislaid for the season.

Because of that, Otton's 86 targets person really made him their astir targeted subordinate connected the squad this year. He's besides tally much routes retired of the slot this twelvemonth (219) than immoderate subordinate connected the squad astatine immoderate accomplishment position.

But Otton's contributions aren't conscionable felt pinch the shot successful his hands. He's made large strides this play arsenic a tally blocker. He has produced a 74.9% tally blocking triumph complaint -- 4th champion connected his squad astatine immoderate position. In fact, 95.4% of Otton's tally blocking wins (62 wins, 3 losses) person resulted successful first downs - the champion percent of immoderate subordinate connected the team.

The Buccaneers are presently connected a four-game triumph streak and person improved to 8-6, holding a one-game lead complete the Atlanta Falcons successful the NFC South. They'll request to support that separator arsenic the Falcons person the head-to-head tie-breaker.

A triumph Sunday would necktie the Bucs' second-longest single-season triumph streak successful franchise history and their longest since 2016, and it would springiness the Bucs a 93% chance to triumph the NFC South, according to ESPN Analytics. They are, however, presently 0-3 successful primetime games this season.