The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just dropped a late addition to their injury report for Sunday’s showdown with the Steelers, and it’s a brutal one. Linebacker Josiah Trotter, a second-round pick this year who’s already been a huge part of their defense, is now questionable to play after being limited in practice with a knee injury. This is a massive hit to a team already reeling from a string of absences.
Trotter’s Rookie Season Hitting a Snag
Man, this stings for the Bucs, especially after what Trotter has shown this season. He’s been a starter in three of the four games he’s played, which is huge for a rookie, right? And he’s produced: 40 tackles, a sack, and even an interception return for a touchdown. That’s big-time impact. The worst part? This isn’t a new issue. Trotter also missed Week 3 with a knee injury, so you gotta wonder what’s going on there. Losing a young guy who’s playing at that level, bringing that kind of juice to the defense, just when things are getting tough? That’s a gut punch for sure.
The Injury List Keeps Growing
And it’s not just Trotter, not by a long shot. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson confirmed on Thursday that quarterback Baker Mayfield is officially missing his third straight game with that dislocated right thumb. Three straight games! That’s gotta be tough for the locker room. Beyond Mayfield, the Bucs have straight-up ruled out safety Antoine Winfield with a rib injury and wide receiver David Sills is out with a hamstring issue. It keeps piling up. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison is listed as doubtful with a quad injury. And then you’ve got a whole crew joining Trotter with questionable tags: linebacker SirVocea Dennis (ankle, foot), cornerback Ayden Garnes (ankle), and running back Sean Tucker (quad). That’s a huge chunk of the roster dealing with injuries heading into Sunday. How do you even put together a game plan with that many question marks?
The Buccaneers are set to battle the Steelers on Sunday. With so many key players either out or questionable, they’re going to need some serious grit to pull off a win. It’ll be a true test of their depth and determination, for sure.
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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