Bucs QB Fitzpatrick relishes strong season debut

Atlanta Falcons: The loss of Pro Bowl strong safety Keanu Neal leaves a void, and the Falcons feel second-year pro-Damontae Kazee is ready to step up. Kazee was a ball-hawking cornerback at San Diego State, but his tackling ability also caught the eyes of Atlanta coach Dan Quinn. "We just said we think he had the skill set to play safety," Quinn said. "So right when he arrived here, we put him at safety and at nickel. When we said OK, let's just leave him at one spot to learn it, we settled at free safety. Then this year, we went back to training him at two spots where he can play safety and nickel. Now we'll do it again with him at strong safety."

Carolina Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera didn't reveal how long tight end Greg Olsen (foot) will be sidelined, but it is clear he won't be available for Sunday's game against the Falcons. The injury provides an opportunity for fourth-round pick Ian Thomas. The Panthers -- and Olsen -- are high on the former Indiana player. "Ian has all the traits to be a true NFL tight end," Olsen said recently. "He's strong enough. He can engage at the line of scrimmage. He's smooth. He's faster than you think he is. He catches the ball well. So I think Ian has a chance to have all the traits to be a complete guy."

New Orleans Saints: With Mark Ingram serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy, there was plenty of work for Alvin Kamara on Sunday. "Probably up 10 from his normal average," Saints coach Sean Payton said of Kamara's 52 offensive snaps in the opening loss to Tampa Bay. "He's somewhere in that 40 counts. I felt like he's in excellent shape, I thought he played exceptionally well yesterday and yet, it turned into one of those space, matchup games where we were throwing it more than we would like." Kamara actually had more receptions (nine) than carries (eight) as he had a career-best 112 receiving yards in addition to a touchdown and added 29 rushing yards and two scores.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was beaming after throwing for 417 yards and four touchdown passes in the season-opening win over New Orleans for many reasons -- one being that he has endured numerous low moments filled with boo-birds in his career. "There are so many high-highs and there are so many low-lows in this game," Fitzpatrick said. "My wife, especially, and the kids have kind of been through it all with me. You learn to enjoy these." Fitzpatrick is supposed to be the temporary starter until Jameis Winston returns from a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, but another strong showing this Sunday against the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles could make things interesting.