Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Josh Freeman will make his first NFL start without his biggest weapon. 

Bucs receiver Antonio Bryant will not play this Sunday against Green Bay because of a lingering knee injury. Tampa Bay backup receiver Maurice Stovall will start in place of Bryant, while Michael Clayton will be on the other side.

Two days ago, Bryant said he fell asleep during the place ride back from London, which resulted in a shrinking of his quad muscle. That and the fact he was “all crunched up’’ during the flight combined to create renewed pain his knee, he said.

After leading the Bucs with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Bryant has 16 catches for 229 yards and two TDs this year.

Tampa Bay’s other inactive players are QB Byron Leftwich (third string inactive), WR Yamon Figurs, CB Mike Mickens, FB Chris Pressley, G Shawn Murphy, T James Lee and DT Dre Moore.