The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be heading into Thursday night without their most reliable scorer, and that would be a brutal blow for an 0-4 team already trying to keep pace on a short week.
Kicker Chase McLaughlin showed up on Tampa Bay’s Tuesday injury report with hip and groin issues after not being listed on Monday. The update came from a walkthrough, so the participation levels were estimated as if the Bucs had held a full practice, but McLaughlin’s sudden appearance still stands out.
That matters because McLaughlin has been one of the few bright spots for Tampa Bay. He has accounted for 34 of the Buccaneers’ 76 points this season, and he has been perfect on both field goals and extra points. So far in 2026, that makes him arguably the NFL’s best kicker.
The bigger problem for Tampa Bay is depth, or the lack of it. The Buccaneers do not currently have a kicker on the practice squad, and they also do not have the extra roster spot available to bring one in right now.
If McLaughlin is able to play but isn’t fully healthy, his accuracy could be affected. If he can’t go at all, the Bucs would be scrambling with only two days to sort it out.
That would make every kick feel a lot heavier against Dallas, especially with field goals and extra points suddenly far less certain. Tampa Bay is already facing a tough assignment with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels starting as a UDFA, and losing McLaughlin would only make Thursday night more difficult.
The Buccaneers are set to play the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 8 at 8:15 p.m.
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