The Bucs got a cleaner-looking injury report on Thursday, with a few players back on the practice field as the team works through a stretch full of illnesses.
Running back Bucky Irving and cornerback Zyon McCollum both moved up to limited after sitting out the previous day. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey also took a step forward, going from missing practice to being a full participant.
At the same time, the biggest questions are still hanging over wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and right tackle Luke Goedeke. Egbuka was not seen at practice, and with both a foot injury and a concussion listed, it does not sound likely he’ll be available Sunday. Goedeke was at least around the locker room, and there’s more optimism he could try to get on the field Friday, but that is far from certain.
That matters because the Bucs would like to have their full starting offensive line together with quarterback Baker Mayfield back in the mix.
Here’s how Tampa Bay’s injury report looked Thursday ahead of the divisional matchup with Carolina:
Riley Dixon - Illness - Full
Emeka Egbuka - Concussion/Foot - DNP
Chris Godwin Jr. - Rest - DNP
Luke Goedeke - Calf - DNP
Bucky Irving - Illness - Limited
Calijah Kancey - Illness - Full
Cody Mauch - Wrist - Full
Baker Mayfield - Right Thumb - Full
Zyon McCollum - Illness - Limited
Chase McLaughlin - Illness - Full
Benjamin Morrison - Quad - Full
A’Shawn Robinson - Rest - Limited
Christian Rozeboom - Finger - DNP
David Sills V - Hamstring - Full
Josiah Trotter - Shoulder - Full
Sean Tucker - Quad - Full
Vita Vea - Rest - Full
Antoine Winfield Jr. - Rib - Limited
Carolina’s report also included a few notable names:
A.J. Dillon - Ankle - Full
Monroe Freeling - Knee - Full
Chuba Hubbard - Rest - Full
Thomas Incoom - Calf - DNP
Devin Lloyd - Rest - Full
Bam Martin-Scott - Hamstring - Full
Taylor Moton - Rest - Full
Jaelan Phillips - Hamstring - DNP
Darren Waller - Rest - Full
Bryce Young - Knee - Full
In Other News...
Bucs Legend Warren Sapp Draws Heat For Another Off-Field Controversy
Warren Sapp has spent decades as one of the most recognizable figures in Buccaneers history, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle whose playing career and later coaching stops have kept him in the football conversation long after his retirement. But a viral video that surfaced this week has shifted the attention back to something far less flattering, adding another uncomfortable chapter to the public image of one of Tampa Bays most celebrated legends.
The clip reignited scrutiny over Sapps conduct off the field, coming after another widely circulated run-in earlier this year drew a different kind of attention. For a player whose football rsum still carries real weight in Tampa Bay circles, the latest controversy only deepens the sense that his post-playing legacy keeps getting complicated by incidents that have nothing to do with the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Need Help At One Position Before Panthers Game
The Buccaneers are heading into their matchup with the Panthers with another roster shuffle on their hands, and this one hits a spot where depth already mattered. Christian Rozeboom had been a useful piece at inside linebacker, giving Tampa Bay some stability behind the starters, but the team moved him to injured reserve as it adjusts for the stretch run.
In the same transaction window, the Bucs brought David Sills V back from injured reserve, giving them an extra body at receiver at a time when that group is taking hits of its own. The timing matters because Tampa Bay may need him sooner rather than later, which leaves the defense to sort out how it replaces Rozeboom while the offense keeps bracing for more attrition before Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfields Return Came With Unusual Help Bucs Fans Didnt See Coming
Baker Mayfield is lining up to return to the Buccaneers after missing three games with a dislocated thumb, and his comeback has included an unusual assist from across the parking lot. The Tampa Bay Rays helped come up with a customized glove meant to protect the injury while still letting Mayfield grip and throw, a small but notable example of how often the two teams around the bay end up overlapping when one of them needs a little help.
Mayfield has already been practicing with the glove and is expected to start the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers, giving Tampa Bay a timely boost as it tries to get its offense back on track. For a quarterback trying to return cleanly from a hand injury, the details matter, and this one has turned into a story of local collaboration as much as a football update. [Read more 🡒]