The expected absence of Tampa Bay cornerback Johnthan Banks, who is likely to miss Sunday’s game against Carolina with a knee injury, will likely result in fellow corner Mike Jenkins making his first start as a Buccaneer.
A former University of South Florida standout who joined the Bucs as a free agent in 2014 but missed all but one game last year because of a torn pectoral muscle, was working with the first team at practice Friday.
“Mike would be called on anyway,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said of Jenkins, who replaced Banks ahead of former starter Alterraun Verner during the Bucs’ loss at Houston last week.