Rookie running back Bucky Irving didn't practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until Friday, and then in limited fashion, but his toe injury will not keep him out of a Week Eight rematch with the Atlanta Falcons. Irving currently leads the Buccaneers in rushing yards (351), yards from scrimmage (475) and rushing touchdowns (three).
Tight end Payne Durham, also listed as questionable on Friday, will return to action after missing one game due to a calf injury. Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett was the third player listed as questionable for the Buccaneers in Week Eight but that was due primarily to his roster status, and he was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. He practiced fully all week.
The Bucs will play their first game since 2021 without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Evans is inactive for the game due to a hamstring injury and Godwin is on injured reserve and out for the season due to an ankle dislocation. In addition, rookie safety Tykee Smith (concussion), the team's starting nickel back, and defensive lineman Greg Gaines (calf) are sidelined in Week Eight by injuries.
The Buccaneers and Falcons submitted their list of inactives at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff of their Week Eight game at Raymond James Stadium. After elevating quarterback Michael Pratt from the practice squad on Saturday, the Buccaneers had 54 available players and thus had to name six inactives to get down to the game-day limit of 48. The Falcons elevated defensive lineman Demone Harris and cornerback Natrone Brooks from the practice squad and therefore had to name seven inactives on Sunday.
BUCCANEERS INACTIVES
- WR Mike Evans
- DL Greg Gaines
- G Royce Newman
- QB Michael Pratt
- OLB Jose Ramirez
- S Tykee Smith
Evans, Gaines and Smith are out due to injury.
FALCONS INACTIVES
- LB Troy Andersen
- DL Brandon Dorlus
- RB Jase McClellan
- T Brandon Parker
- S Justin Simmons
- DL Kentavius Street
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Andersen and Simmons are out due to injury.
