October 10 Updates
The Buccaneers won't release their final Week Six injury report, which includes game status designations, until later on Friday afternoon, but Head Coach Todd Bowles was able to definitively rule out six players at the conclusion of practice. When the Buccaneers play the 49ers on Sunday in a battle of 4-1 teams, they will be without wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, running backs Bucky Irving and Josh Williams and cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison.
Evans, Irving and Morrison are dealing with injuries that have already kept them out for multiple weeks. McCollum had a medical procedure on his thumb at the beginning of the week and has not practiced. That left Godwin as the team's biggest question mark in Week Six, and Williams was just added to the injury list on Friday.
Godwin has played two games since returning from the ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2024 campaign, but a new injury to his fibula has him in what Bowles described as "week to week" status. As for Williams, he has entered the concussion protocol after being injured in practice on Thursday. Williams had been evaluated for a potential concussion during the win in Seattle in Week Five but was cleared to return to play.
Bowles said the Buccaneers would consider elevating running back Owen Wright, who was just added to the practice squad on Wednesday in order to have three healthy running backs against San Francisco. Elevating a receiver will also be in consideration; currently, the Bucs have two receivers on their practice squad in Garrett Greene and Dennis Houston.
CLICK HERE for a look at this week's injury report, which will be updated on Friday afternoon.
October 8 Updates
An injury suffered in Week Four may make Buccaneers starting cornerback Zyon McCollum unavailable to play in Week Six.
McCollum watched Wednesday's walk-through practice from the sideline, with his left arm in a sling and his hand bandaged. Head Coach Todd Bowles explained that the fourth-year defender had medical work done on an injured thumb.
"He got a thumb procedure done, so we'll see how he feels towards the end of the week," said Bowles. "It's going to be touch-and-go."
McCollum suffered the injury in the Bucs' loss to Philadelphia on September 28, then played through it in last Sunday's win over the Seahawks. Bowles said that McCollum was "potentially" in play to suit up against the 49ers this coming Sunday.
"Presumably. We'll see what his pain level is," said the coach. "That's what it's going to depend on."
McCollum has been the team's most active cornerback this season, playing all but two defensive snaps through the first five weeks while recording 31 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed. Jamel Dean and rookie Benjamin Morrison had been splitting time at the other outside corner spot, but both players missed the Seattle game due to injuries. A return by either Dean or Morrison would balance the scales somewhat if McCollum is out on Sunday, and Bowles suggested that Dean was the more likely of the two to play.
"Dean is in play," said Bowles. "We'll see what he does tomorrow but he's in play. Morrison, I haven't seen enough of him."
CLICK HERE for a look at some of the other top storylines developing this week as the 4-1 Bucs prepare for a visit from the 4-1 49ers.
October 3 Updates
Following the Buccaneers' final practice of the week on Friday, Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed that starting running back Bucky Irving will be unavailable to play on Sunday in Seattle due to foot and shoulder injuries. Irving was one of five players, the Buccaneers will be ruling out on Friday's injury report, along with wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Christian Izien and cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison.
As a rookie, Irving gradually moved into the lead back role for Tampa Bay as the season progressed, eventually leading the team and all NFL rookies with 1,122 rushing yards and 1,514 yards from scrimmage. This year, he is the unquestioned starter and Leads the team with 237 rushing yards, 19 receptions and 430 yards from scrimmage through four games. That is obviously a big loss for an offense already missing Evans and two of its original starting offensive linemen, but the Bucs feel like they are well equipped to handle Irving's absence.
Specifically, the team has three other running backs on the 53-man roster, veterans Rachaad White and Sean Tucker and rookie Josh Williams. White was the starter entering the 2024 season after he had racked up 1,539 yards from scrimmage in 2023, while Tucker has had far fewer opportunities but has handled them well when they've come. Williams, who played his college ball at LSU and made the team as an undrafted free agent, will likely be active on game day for the first time this season.
"Rachaad and most of them have played before, other than Josh," said Bowles. "He hasn't played before. But everybody else we've played with before and we think can do a hell of a job. So we feel good about them playing."
The Bucs faced a similar situation in Week Six last year when White, then the starter, couldn't play due to injury in a game at New Orleans. That didn't slow down the offense, as it set a franchise single-game record with 594 net yards, with Irving contributing 105 yards from scrimmage and Tucker winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week with 192 yards from scrimmage and two scores. Tucker only has one carry for two yards this season, but in his three-year career he has carried 66 times for 333 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per run. After his explosion in New Orleans, Bowles suggested that Tucker should get the ball more often, but that has proved difficult to manufacture with the Irving-White duo being so productive.
"I still feel that way but it's hard to do when you've got Bucky and Rachaad sitting right there," said Bowles. "I didn't say it was fair, I just said he needs more touches. I'd like [for him] to have more touches, but the other two guys deserve their touches as well. It's just one of those good problems to have as a coach."
CLICK HERE for a tale of the tape in the Bucs-Seahawks matchup on Sunday.
October 1 Updates
Buccaneers Running Backs Coach Skip Peete received medical attention near the beginning of the team's Wednesday morning walk-through and left the facility for further examination. The Buccaneers released the following statement regarding Peete's status:
"During this morning's walk-through practice, running backs coach Skip Peete experienced a medical episode. He was attended to by team medical personnel and was responsive, coherent, and in stable condition prior to being transported off site for further medical evaluations. Additional updates will be provided as they become available."
Peete, 62, is in his third season on Tampa Bay's coaching staff. He has previously coached for the Raiders, Cowboys, Bears and Rams. Players and coaches paused for several minutes, expressing concern over Peete's health.
"It's definitely scary," said quarterback Baker Mayfield. "Luckily he was alert after [the episode] and kind of making some jokes, but in the moment, it's much bigger than the game of football. Especially when you come into work every day with your teammates, coaching staff, everybody in the building, when something like that happens, somebody close to you, it put things in perspective."
Bucky Irving, the Buccaneers' leading rusher, watched the Bucs' walk-through on Wednesday while wearing a walking boot on his left leg. After practice, Head Coach Todd Bowles said that the team wouldn't have clarity on his game status for this weekend until Friday, but he knows Irving has to shed the boot before having a chance to get ready to play against the Seahawks on Sunday.
"They said we'll know more by Friday," said Bowles. "Right now it's a sprain [and] they're taking it day-to-day. If he's not out of the boot by Friday I would probably be more inclined to say he's not going to play."
If Irving is sidelined against Seattle, it will mark the first game he has missed since being drafted in the fourth round in 2024. Irving was also the Bucs' leading rusher in his first season, gaining 1,122 yards on the ground and 1,514 yards from scrimmage, both best among NFL rookies. The Buccaneers have three other running backs on the roster in Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Josh Williams, the lattermost of whom is an undrafted rookie who has been inactive for the first four games.
"Having a lot of reps with 'Chaad, and you guys have seen what Tuck's able to do as well with his speed; it's elite," said quarterback Baker Mayfield. "Just getting back to what we had prior to Bucky. Then you add in a guy like Josh Williams if Bucky's not able to go, [he's] a guy that I told you guys during training camp that I really, really liked. Smart kid, knows exactly what we're trying to get done. It's not the same without Buck because he brings a different spark to it and those explosive plays that you guys have seen for two years now that we'll be missing. But we'll see. Hopefully he's able to play, but it not we trust the guys that are in there."
CLICK HERE for more important storylines leading up to Sunday's game in Seattle.
