The Buccaneers get a little healthier for Sunday’s home opener, and that matters on both sides of the ball.
Tampa Bay will have wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Sean Tucker available against the Browns at Raymond James Stadium, while safety Miles Killebrew is also set to play after working through concussion protocol. The only real setback from the final injury picture is cornerback Jacob Parrish, who is inactive after hurting his back in last week’s loss to Cincinnati.
That leaves the Bucs with a familiar answer on the back end: Benjamin Morrison. The second-year corner is expected to start outside opposite Zyon McCollum after taking over last week when Parrish left the game.
Morrison made the most of that opportunity, especially as a tackler, and now he’s in line for a bigger role. He has also had to battle through a lot himself, missing much of his rookie season and a good chunk of this offseason because of hamstring issues.
Parrish’s absence stings, but because he was already labeled a game-time decision, this does not sound like something that should linger too long.
McMillan’s return gives Baker Mayfield his full group of receivers for the Browns matchup. The third-year wideout brings another layer to the passing game because he can stretch the field vertically and help create room underneath for Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., the backs and tight end Cade Otton.
Tucker being back is a boost as well. It gives offensive coordinator Zac Robinson all three of his backs to use, and Tucker also gave Tampa Bay a real weapon near the goal line last season.
The Bucs also elevated practice squad safety Ifeatu Melifonwu for the game.
Cleveland arrives in solid shape, too. The Browns only ruled out guard Teven Jenkins because of a back issue.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell was listed as questionable with an ankle injury after being limited in Friday’s practice, but he is available for Sunday. Overall, the Browns come into Tampa pretty healthy.
Here is the full list of the Browns’ inactives for Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium.
In Other News...
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Deshaun Watson opened for Cleveland and was efficient if not explosive, completing 7 of 9 passes for 55 yards, while Baker Mayfields afternoon was just as constrained for Tampa Bay at 9 of 15 for 45 yards with an interception. With both sides struggling to create clean possession after clean possession, the game settled into the kind of field-position battle where one mistake can matter a lot more than a long scoring drive. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Get One Last Chance After Bizarre Late-Game Delay
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When play finally resumed, the Buccaneers still had a live chance to flip the outcome, adding an unusual layer of drama to a game that had already spent most of the evening on edge. For Tampa Bay, the pause did not erase the fact that a comeback was still on the table, and the final moments were set up to hinge on execution after one of the strangest interruptions a regular-season game can offer. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get An Early Opening In Cleveland's Defense
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For Tampa Bay, the early takeaway is less about one game than about the chance it created to probe a defense that may not be hiding much in obvious situations. The sample is tiny, but if Cleveland keeps showing that same down-and-distance rhythm, future opponents will have a clear starting point for how to plan around it. [Read more 🡒]