The Buccaneers will be without starting inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis for Thursday night’s divisional clash against the Falcons. Dennis, who suffered a hip injury in Sunday’s loss to the Saints, didn’t practice all week and has officially been ruled out, according to head coach Todd Bowles.
With Dennis sidelined, the Bucs will turn to a committee approach at inside linebacker. Expect to see a mix of Deion Jones-who logged 17 snaps last week-alongside rookies Nick Jackson and John Bullock. Bowles made it clear the rotation will depend on the defensive package, saying, “You’ll probably see different guys.”
Dennis had started all 13 games this season, but his performance in pass coverage had been an area of concern. Opposing quarterbacks completed 83% of their passes when targeting receivers in his zone, racking up 595 yards and two touchdowns. While Dennis brings energy and physicality, the Bucs are hoping the combination of Jones’ experience and the young legs of Jackson and Bullock can stabilize the middle of the defense.
On the offensive side, there’s reason for optimism. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are trending toward returning to action.
Both practiced this week, and Bowles sounded encouraged by what he saw: “They looked good. They looked fresh.
They ran great routes. They looked like they never left.”
Evans hasn’t played since fracturing his collarbone back on October 20 in Detroit, while McMillan has been on injured reserve all season after suffering a serious neck injury in the preseason. If both are active Thursday, it would mark the first time all four of Tampa Bay’s top wideouts are on the field together this season-a significant development for an offense that’s lacked consistency in recent weeks.
Tight end Cade Otton (knee) and safety Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder) are both listed as doubtful. Otton, who missed the first two practices of the week, was seen participating during Wednesday’s media-open session, but his status remains uncertain. Smith’s availability is also in question, which could impact the Bucs’ ability to match up in sub-packages against Atlanta’s versatile offensive sets.
Despite the short turnaround and a frustrating loss to the Saints still fresh, Bowles emphasized that his team is focused and understands the stakes. “It’s a short week, we’ve got an opportunity to win the ballgame and still got everything in front of us,” he said. “They understand that, they know what’s at stake, and they’re looking forward to it.”
With the NFC South still up for grabs, Thursday night’s game carries major playoff implications. And while injuries are part of the late-season grind, the Bucs are hoping their depth-and a potentially full-strength receiving corps-can help them bounce back in a big way.