Two of the Buccaneers’ top draft picks are officially sidelined for today’s Week 3 showdown at Raymond James Stadium, setting up a wild afternoon before the whistle even blows. We’re just ninety minutes from kickoff between the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and those inactive lists are dropping some early-season realities on both squads.
Vikings Rookies Still Waiting, Plus a Last-Minute Arrival
Man, talk about a waiting game! Two of the Vikings’ three third-round picks from this past April’s draft, offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan and safety Jakobe Thomas, are still waiting to make their NFL debuts. Both are inactive again today. The punting duties? Still with veteran Johnny Hekker, as Brett Thorson is sidelined for this one. Other Vikings who won’t be suiting up include QB J.J. McCarthy (emergency QB), CB Zemaiah Vaughn, and DL Elijah Williams. Now, here’s some drama for you: Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. didn’t even travel with the team yesterday because of a personal issue, but he made it to Tampa and is active! They even elevated Tavierre Thomas from the practice squad, likely as insurance for Pace, only to deactivate him for the game. Wild.
Bucs’ Draft Haul Hit Hard By Early Injuries
Over on the Tampa Bay side, it’s all about the injuries to their top rookie talent. Outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., the Bucs’ first pick in the draft, and linebacker Josiah Trotter, their second pick, are both out today due to injuries. Bain was ruled out earlier on their final injury report, and Trotter was listed as doubtful, so these aren’t exactly shockers. But still, your first two picks? Sitting out Week 3? That stings. The rest of Tampa’s inactive list includes CB Ayden Garnes, G Luke Haggard, DL Rakeen Nunez-Roches, and G Billy Schrauth. The good news is there were no other injury designations for the home team, so at least there weren’t more surprises on that front.
This Week 3 clash is already shaping up to be a test of depth and early-season grit for both teams. With top draft picks sidelined and some surprising roster shuffles, you know it’s going to be a battle to watch. The game thread drops at 2:30 PM Central, so be ready to talk some football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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