National Football League

QB Freeman inactive for Bucs against Cardinals

Published Sep. 29, 2013 6:29 p.m. ET

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Josh Freeman has gone from Tampa Bay's starting quarterback to inactive for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Buccaneers benched the fifth-year pro in favor of Mike Glennon, who's making his first NFL start. Freeman completed less than 48 percent of his passes during Tampa Bay's 0-3 start, and the Bucs have lost eight of nine overall dating to last season.

Cornerbacks Michael Adams and Rashaan Melvin, defensive end Trevor Scott, guard/tackle Gabe Carimi, tight end Tom Crabtree and defensive tackle Derek Landri also are inactive for the Bucs.

Safety Rashad Johnson is inactive for the Cardinals after losing the tip of a finger making a tackle against New Orleans last week.

Arizona's other inactives are quarterback Ryan Lindley, running back Ryan Williams, linebacker Kevin Minter, tackle Bobby Massie, guard Earl Watford and defensive tackle Dan Williams.

Coach Greg Schiano benched Freeman last Wednesday, two days after saying the former first-round pick remained the starter because he gave the Bucs the best chance to win.

Glennon is a third-round draft pick out of North Carolina State.

Freeman became the first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history last season. However, his inconsistency down the stretch led to the Bucs losing five of their last six games and missing the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

Freeman is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie. The benching caps a tumultuous month in which he overslept and missed a team photo shoot, and was not elected a team captain. The Bucs lost their first two games on last-second field goals and failed to score a touchdown in last week's 23-3 loss at New England.

Schiano said Wednesday that Freeman would be the backup quarterback. A day later, Freeman did a television interview with ESPN and said a trade might be the best solution for him and the team.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org