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Buccaneers Week 7 Stock Report: Tristan Wirfs, Jacob Parrish Among 5 Surging in Charlotte
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- Buccaneers Week 7 Stock Report: Tristan Wirfs, Jacob Parrish Among 5 Surging in Charlotte
A week after Jalon Daniels' picks stung in an overtime loss, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had almost nobody to put in the falling column. They beat the Carolina Panthers 43-13 at Bank of America Stadium, and Tristan Wirfs and Jacob Parrish were two of the best players on the field.
Tampa Bay ran for 258 yards, picked off Bryce Young twice and led 33-6 at halftime. Baker Mayfield, back from a dislocated thumb, needed only 11 passes.
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Here's whose stock moved, using official grades from PFF.
Rising: Tristan Wirfs
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) reacts during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Wirfs posted an 82.8 overall grade, the best on Tampa Bay's offense, according to PFF. He graded 85.4 in pass protection and 79.4 as a run blocker.
The line as a whole cleared the way for 171 rushing yards before contact, the most by any team in a game this season by ESPN's tracking, per ESPN's Jenna Laine . That came with right tackle Luke Goedeke out and Ben Chukwuma starting in his place. Wirfs was the one Tampa Bay ran behind.
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Rising: Jacob Parrish
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) reacts during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Carolina threw at Parrish three times and didn't complete any of them. He graded 90.1 in coverage and broke up a pass, and the Panthers' passer rating when targeting him was 39.6, according to PFF.
Parrish already led the NFL in passes defensed after Week 6, according to the team . Young came in running the league's top passing offense, and Parrish took his side of the field away for all 56 snaps.
Falling: Alex Anzalone
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (23) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Anzalone graded 35.0, second-lowest among Tampa Bay's defensive starters, according to PFF. Carolina completed five of six passes against him for 48 yards, and he missed a tackle.
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That follows a 32.9 grade against Pittsburgh, so it's now two straight weeks. With Christian Rozeboom on injured reserve with a finger injury, the Bucs don't have an easy way to take him off the field, which makes his coverage the biggest thing to watch against Atlanta.
Rising: Kenny Gainwell
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (1) runs against Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (23) during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Gainwell ran 14 times for 88 yards, an average of 6.3 per carry. That included a 29-yard run to set up Bucky Irving's second touchdown and four straight carries to open the fourth quarter.
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He also left briefly with a hip injury and came back. Gainwell had been floated as a third-down back for Cincinnati or Green Bay before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Sunday made the case that he's more useful in Tampa.
Rising: Al-Quadin Muhammad
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker David Walker (51) tackles Carolina Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans (84) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Muhammad played 16 snaps and posted a 93.3 overall grade, the highest on the defense, according to PFF. One of his two pressures was the strip-sack of Young on third-and-14 that Calijah Kancey returned 32 yards for a touchdown.
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Yaya Diaby's three sacks got the attention, and Vita Vea added one. Muhammad's play was the one that put Tampa Bay up 17-0.
Falling: Ted Hurst
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates with running back Kenny Gainwell (1) after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
With Emeka Egbuka ruled out , there was a starting spot open. Hurst played 35 snaps and was targeted once, an incompletion on third-and-goal from the 4. He did draw a 21-yard pass interference flag on a deep ball, but he finished without a catch and graded 47.5, last among Tampa Bay's offensive starters.
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His 37.6 run-blocking grade stood out on a day the Bucs ran 49 times. Tez Johnson made more of his chance.
Rising: Tez Johnson
Oct 25, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Johnson played 41 snaps, up from 25 against Pittsburgh. He caught both of his targets for 33 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown that was the 200th of Mayfield's career. He added a 14-yard run that set up a field goal and a 22-yard punt return.
He graded 72.0, the best among Tampa Bay's receivers. If Egbuka's concussion keeps him out another week, Johnson has earned the first look in a passing game that still has to show what it can do with Mayfield back.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
