The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a much-needed boost at practice on Thursday, with two important starters back on the field as they try to navigate an 0-3 start.
Edge rusher Yaya Diaby and wide receiver Chris Godwin both took part in practice after sitting out Wednesday, a development Tampa Bay badly needed with Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers looming. The Bucs opened the week with some concern on the injury report, but Thursday brought better news.
Diaby was dealing with a calf injury he picked up in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday, then returned Thursday with a wrap on the injured calf. Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Diaby is likely to play against Green Bay, while the coach sounded less certain about the other starter on that side, Rueben Bain Jr.
"Yaya [Diaby], we think, will be okay. Rueben [Bain], we're still trying to decide, and we'll see at the end of the week where he is," Bowles said Wednesday.
Godwin’s situation popped up more suddenly. He was added to Wednesday’s report with an ankle injury and did not practice that day, but on Thursday he was stretching with the team and then working through wide receiver drills. His return matters even more now with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels set to start Sunday after Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb ruled him out.
Along with Diaby and Godwin, Josiah Trotter and Rakeem Nunez Roches also appeared to be participating in Thursday’s session. Jacob Parrish and SirVocea Dennis, meanwhile, did not appear to be out there.
Whether Diaby and Godwin are listed as limited or full when the practice report is updated later Thursday remains to be seen, but both players are trending in the right direction.
The Buccaneers and Packers kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Injury Concern Just Got Worse At The Worst Time
The Buccaneers are already juggling a growing injury list, and the timing could hardly be worse as they get ready for Green Bay. Baker Mayfield, Rueben Bain Jr., Jalen McMillan and Josiah Trotter have all been part of the health conversation this week, and now another key name has been added to the mix.
Chris Godwin landed on the injury report with an ankle issue and did not take part in practice, leaving Tampa Bay with even more to monitor before the Packers arrive. For a team trying to stay steady through the week, the concern now stretches beyond who is available to who can get through the prep work in time. [Read more 🡒]
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Bucs Suddenly Face A Week 4 Concern They Cant Ignore
The Buccaneers are heading into Week 4 with an injury report that already looks like a storyline in itself, and it comes at a time when the margin for error is getting thin. Tampa Bay has several important offensive and defensive pieces either missing or limited in practice, creating some unease around a roster that has been trying to stay steady through the first month.
Chris Godwin Jr. was among the notable absences because of an ankle injury, while Rueben Bain Jr. is still working back from groin and shoulder issues. The bigger concern for Tampa Bay may be the quarterback situation, with the team hoping Baker Mayfield can return soon without needing a trip to injured reserve, a decision point that could shape how the Buccaneers navigate the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]