The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting one starter back for Thursday Night Football, but the injury report still leaves them thinner in a few important spots as they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys.
Head coach Todd Bowles said kicker Chase McLaughlin should be available after he showed up on Tuesday’s injury report with groin and hip issues. McLaughlin stretched with the team in warmups and, according to Bowles, is expected to be good to go.
The bigger boost for Tampa Bay comes on the edge. First-round pick Rueben Bain is set to return for the first time since Week 2 after missing time with a groin injury he suffered against the Cleveland Browns. He hasn’t piled up big production in limited action, but he remains a key piece of the Bucs’ pass-rush plans and should help the edge group against Dallas.
Not everything broke the Buccaneers’ way, though. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison and linebacker SirVocea Dennis will both sit out Thursday’s game, Bowles said.
Neither player is part of Tampa Bay’s starting defense, but both matter on special teams. Dennis has played 61.95% of special teams snaps this season, while Morrison has handled 27.43%. Their absence forces the Bucs to reshuffle that part of the roster.
The depth hit matters, too. Dennis gives Tampa Bay another option behind Josiah Trotter, who is dealing with a nagging knee injury, and Christian Rozeboom. If the linebacker group takes another hit, the Bucs will feel Dennis’ absence.
Morrison’s absence is just as relevant behind the starting corners. He is the next man up behind Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish, and if either outside corner has to leave the game, Tampa Bay may have to lean on undrafted free agent Ayden Garnes, who impressed in the preseason and earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
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