The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for a tough Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, and they will be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield. That’s already a massive blow, but Wednesday’s practice report just dropped, and it paints an even grimmer picture for the Bucs, with wide receiver Chris Godwin sitting out due to an ankle injury.
The Offense Is Already Feeling the Crunch
Losing your starting quarterback is never good, especially for a team trying to stay competitive, but the hits keep coming on offense for the Buccaneers. Godwin, a key target with 10 catches for 111 yards so far this season, missed practice entirely with that ankle issue. And if that wasn’t enough, this comes just a day after the team put fellow wideout Jalen McMillan on injured reserve. That’s a serious lack of depth at a crucial position when you are trying to make things happen without your starting signal-caller. Tight end Ko Kieft also sat out practice because of an elbow injury, adding to the offensive woes. Who’s going to catch the ball this Sunday, seriously?
Defensive Line Woes and More Sidelined Stars
It’s not just the offense taking hits either. The Buccaneers’ pass rush, a critical component of any defense, is facing major questions. Two of their top pass rushers, Yaya Diaby, dealing with calf and shoulder issues, and Rueben Bain, with groin and shoulder problems, were both listed as out on the week’s first injury report. Bain didn’t even play in last Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, so this isn’t a new development, but it’s not getting any better. Defensive tackle Rakeem Nuñez-Roches also missed practice with ankle and foot injuries, which just compounds the problems up front. Cornerback Jacob Parrish was also out due to a personal matter. Even the limited participants list was packed, with linebacker SirVocea Dennis (calf), running back Bucky Irving (glute), defensive back Keionte Scott (tor), and linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder) all feeling the pinch.
This Sunday’s game against the Packers just got a whole lot harder for the Buccaneers. Coming off a loss to the Vikings, they desperately needed a clean bill of health to turn things around. Instead, they are staring down an injury report that reads like a full roster subtraction. How are they going to piece it together? We’ll find out when they kick off against Green Bay. This team needs a miracle, or at least a few healthy bodies, to compete.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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