CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady's job got a little easier Friday in terms of being pressured with the Panthers ruling out starting defensive linemen Kawann Short and Yetur Gross-Matos with injuries.
Short, a two-time Pro Bowl tackle who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, suffered a foot/ankle injury in a 34-30 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and did not practice all week beyond going through a few drills on Thursday.
Gross-Matos, a second-round pick out of Penn State who started at end opposite Brian Burns, entered the concussion protocol after being hit in the eye during Wednesday's practice.