"Few people know what Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow endures to play every week, let alone to play in Sunday's game against Carolina.

Winslow has battled knee pain throughout his career and this season. He had his sixth knee surgery during the offseason and Bucs coaches have tried to limit Winslow's practice participation. Winslow did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but was a limited participant in Friday's light activities.

Despite those obstacles, Winslow believed there was no way he would miss Tampa Bay's game against Carolina, a 20-7 victory in which he caught four passes for a team-high 83 yards.

"I'm ready anyway. I'm ready to go," Winslow said of how not practicing affected him. "Either way, this is my job, so I have to be ready to play."

Winslow was ready on Sunday.

All of his catches came on third-down plays and resulted in first downs to sustain scoring drives.

In the first quarter, his 24-yard catch on third-and-10 near midfield kept alive a drive that resulted in Tampa Bay's first touchdown.

In the second quarter, Winslow made an 8-yard reception on third-and-6 from Tampa Bay's 24-yard line. Three plays later, the Bucs faced third-and-17 at their 25-yard line when quarterback Josh Freeman shook off two Panthers linemen to complete a 40-yard pass to Winslow.

On the next play, Freeman threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams, giving Tampa Bay a 14-7 lead.

Winslow's final catch, for 11 yards on third-and-8 at the Tampa Bay 37-yard-line, sustained a drive that resulted in a field goal.

"I was really proud of Kellen today," Freeman said. "He had a rough week, he didn't really practice. We weren't really sure he was going to be able to go. He came out, gutted it out and had a big day.""