TAMPA, Fla. -- Antonio Bryant was inactive for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, leaving Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Josh Freeman to make his first NFL start without his top wide receiver.
Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during training camp and has been hampered by the injury all season. He was limited in practice this week because of swelling he attributed to the team's long flight home from London two weeks ago.
Tampa Bay's other inactives were wide receiver Yamon Figurs, cornerback Mike Mickens, fullback Chris Pressley, guard Shawn Murphy, tackle James Lee and defensive tackle Dre Moore. The third quarterback was Byron Leftwich.
Green Bay's inactives were wide receivers Jake Allen and Jordy Nelson, safety Derrick Martin, fullback Korey Hall, linebacker Brandon Chillar, tackle Breno Giacomini, tight end Jermichael Finley and defensive end Jarius Wynn.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
