The Buccaneers opened Week 4 with a long injury list and very little good news.
Tampa Bay is still searching for its first win of the season, and the timing of the injuries does not help. The Bucs are home underdogs by 3.5 points against the Green Bay Packers, a team dealing with its own rough start and looking for a bounce-back game of its own.
The biggest concerns remain at quarterback and wide receiver. Baker Mayfield is dealing with an oblique injury, while Emeka Egbuka is out with a hamstring injury. While McMillan has already been placed on IR, the Bucs do not plan to do the same with Mayfield, hoping he will return before the four games he would miss if placed on IR.
Wednesday’s first injury report showed just how crowded the situation is beyond those two names.
Chris Godwin Jr. did not practice because of an ankle injury. If he cannot go Sunday, Tampa would be missing two starting receivers, which would make life even tougher for undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels.
The defensive side looked even more alarming. Cornerback Jacob Parrish was out for personal reasons, and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is still not back on the field after missing Week 3 with groin and shoulder injuries. Bain had been quiet through the first two games after a huge offseason that pushed expectations sky-high, and the hope is that he can eventually get back to being the player Tampa expected.
Outside linebacker YaYa Diaby and defensive tackle Rakeem Nunuz-Roches also did not practice.
If those pass-rush pieces are unavailable against Green Bay, Tampa Bay’s defense could have an even harder time creating pressure than it already has through three games.
There was also a sizable group limited on Wednesday. Running back Bucky Irving is dealing with a glute injury.
Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, who was the defense’s best player the first two weeks before missing the Vikings game, is still working back from a shoulder injury. SirVocea Dennis was limited with a calf issue, and rookie cornerback Keionte Scott was limited because of a toe injury.
It is a rough way to start the week, and Tampa Bay will be hoping Thursday brings a better update.
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 🡒]
Gronk Just Turned Up Pressure On The Buccaneers Biggest Decision
Rob Gronkowskis latest comments landed at a rough moment for Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers staring at an 0-3 start and already dealing with the kind of early-season instability that can force hard conversations. Gronk pointed to the absence of Mike Evans and Lavonte David as part of the reason the team has struggled, and he framed the situation as one that may demand more than just a quick fix. The pressure is only sharper because the Bucs have had to turn to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniel at quarterback while Baker Mayfield nurses an injury.
For an organization that has spent recent years trying to stay in the contender conversation, the next step is no longer just about getting healthy. It is about whether the current structure can steady itself soon enough to prevent a bad start from becoming something far more serious. Gronkowski openly raised the possibility of change on the coaching side, putting Todd Bowles squarely in the middle of a discussion Tampa Bay would prefer to avoid this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Get Timely Boost As Two Key Starters Near Return
The Buccaneers are trying to stop an early slide at 0-3, and the timing of some good injury news could not be better with Green Bay coming to town in Week 4. Edge rusher Yaya Diaby and wide receiver Chris Godwin both returned to practice Thursday after sitting out earlier sessions, giving Tampa Bay a much-needed boost as it works through a shaky opening to the season.
Todd Bowles said Diaby is expected to play, while Godwins status has also improved as the week has gone on. For a team looking to steady itself fast, getting two key starters back in the mix would go a long way, even if the final call on Godwin still leaves a little room for uncertainty heading into the matchup. [Read more 🡒]