TAMPA — Among the unsung contributors in the Bucs' 36-10 home win Sunday over the Bears was C Ben Gottschalk, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday and pressed into duty due to injury for his NFL debut, playing all but six snaps.
"I thought Ben filled in very admirably," coach Dirk Koetter said of the 24-year-old from SMU who finished last season the Bucs' practice squad then spent the first 10 weeks of this season there.
Gottschalk spent extra time preparing this week with both Joe Hawley, who missed the game with a knee injury, and Evan Smith, who started Sunday but left after sustaining a knee injury and didn't return.