November 20 Updates
When Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs was helped off the field in the second quarter of the Buccaneers' Week 10 game against San Francisco, the scene looked grim. Wirfs appeared to be having difficulty putting any weight on his injured left knee, sparking fears of a prolonged absence for one of the team's most important players.
In the days that followed, the Buccaneers received encouraging news about the severity of Wirfs' injury, as it was deemed to be a low-grade MCL sprain, not an ACL tear. As the Bucs resumed practice on Wednesday after their bye week, there was even a glimmer of hope that Wirfs wouldn't miss any games at all. He was a limited participant in the two-hour session and Head Coach Todd Bowles said afterward that a decision on his availability in Week 12 wouldn't come until much closer to Sunday's game against the Giants.
"Tristan is probably going to be a game-day thing [to] see," said Bowles. "He was doing a little bit of things – I don't know where he is as far as [being] ready to play."
Cornerback Zyon McCollum, the Buccaneers' leader in interceptions (two) and passes defensed (10), was also hurt in the 49ers game, coming off the field in the fourth quarter after suffering a hamstring injury. McCollum did not practice on Wednesday and will be another question mark to track in the days leading up to the game at MetLife Stadium.
"He's limited right now, just like Tristan [Wirfs]," said Bowles. "It's going to be close. We'll see."
Bowles also said that wide receiver Mike Evans, who has missed three games due to a hamstring ailment, is "trending" towards returning to action on Sunday. Evans was limited in Wednesday's practice. Cornerback Jamel Dean, who has begun the 21-day practice window for his eventual return from injured reserve, was a full participant on Wednesday.
"He's healthy, it's just a matter of getting into football shape," said Bowles of Dean, who is also recovering from a hamstring injury. "He's got to get in football shape. He's another one where we've got to go through the week, see where he is, and see what he can and can't do as far as helping us and go from there."
CLICK HERE to view the Buccaneers' first injury report of Week 12.
November 18 Updates
On Monday, the Buccaneers opened a 21-day window for veteran cornerback Jamel Dean to practice with the team without counting against the 53-man roster limit. Dean has been on injured reserve since October 21 after sustaining a hamstring injury during a Week Six win in New Orleans.
Since Dean has been on injured reserve long enough to miss four games, he is eligible to return to the active roster at any point during the next three weeks. His return to game action could be, but won't necessarily be, as early as this coming Sunday at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants. For instance, wide receiver Rakim Jarrett was designated for return from injured reserve on October 17 but remained out for one more game before being activated nine days later. Similarly, defensive lineman Earnest Brown was activated 12 days after he returned to practice and long-snapper Evan Deckers was out nine more days after his return designation.
However, Dean sounded optimistic about a quick return after the Bucs' walk-through on Monday.
"I'm ready now because I spent most of the bye week – well, the whole bye week – just getting back into football shape," he declared.
Dean said he worked with team trainers for two to three hours every day during the Bucs' bye week, going through a full circuit of exercises, most of them involving a lot of running. He says his hamstring held up to the workouts without a problem.
Dean is in his sixth NFL season and has played in 76 games with 57 starts for the Buccaneers. His experience would be a welcome addition to a young cornerback room that has lacked in exactly that over the last month. Rookie Tyrek Funderburk and second-year player Josh Hayes each made their first two NFL starts in Dean's absence.
"He's played a lot of ball in this league," said Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote. "It's tough on [those] young guys because you've got to learn on the run, but it's going to be good getting him back. Hopefully he keeps progressing during the week and we can have him out there on Sunday."
Dean is eager to return to the lineup because he wants to be a part of the Bucs' efforts down the stretch to get back into playoff contention, just like they did after their bye week in 2020. That 2020 squad was 7-5 coming out of its bye week but never lost again, with their eighth straight win coming in Super Bowl LV.
"You know, I look forward to the opportunity because I was thinking back to Super Bowl year, after that Bye Week, we had the same conversation," said Dean. "After [that], we just took it one game at a time."
CLICK HERE to hear more from Dean about his impending return to action.
November 11 Updates
The Buccaneers lost a game and their Pro Bowl left tackle to injury on Sunday, but the news on the latter issue was encouraging on Monday. Head Coach Todd indicated that Tristan Wirfs was not expected to land on injured reserve or miss an extended period of time.
"He has a low-grade knee sprain," said Bowles. "He'll be week-to-week. We'll see how he feels after the bye."
Wirfs suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the 49ers. He had to be helped off the field and didn't appear to be able to put weight on his left leg. Justin Skule finished the game at left tackle and would be Wirfs replacement if he misses any additional time.
While seeing Wirfs limp off the field was sobering, the timing of the injury was at least somewhat fortunate. The Buccaneers began their bye week on Monday and Bowles said he would be giving the players the rest of the week off after a round of meetings that afternoon. The Bucs' next game is on November 24 at the New York Giants, giving Wirfs nearly two weeks to recuperate.
Wirfs made the Pro Bowl in 2023 in his first year playing left tackle, after he had played his first three seasons at right tackle. The 13th-overall pick in the 2020 draft, he also drew Pro Bowl invites in 2021 and 2022 and was a first-team Associated Press All-Pro in 2022. Pro Football Focus credits him with allowing zero sacks so far this season.
Skule started four games earlier this season at right tackle while Luke Goedeke was recovering from a concussion. He also started 12 games at left tackle with the 49ers in 2019 and 2020.
CLICK HERE for a recap of Sunday's game against the 49ers.
November 8 Updates
The Buccaneers will have 13 players on their injury report by the end of their Week 10 preparations for the 49ers, but only a few will have their status in doubt on Sunday.
After the final practice of the week on Friday, Head Coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Mike Evans is the only player who has been definitively ruled out against San Francisco. When asked which players might end up being game day decisions, Bowles pointed to one player on each side of the ball: defensive lineman Greg Gaines and wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
"We'll see game time about Gaines and McMillan," said Bowles.
Gaines has missed the last two games with a calf injury and has been limited in practice this week. McMillan aggravated a hamstring injury late last week and missed the Monday night contest in Kansas City. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Bowles also said that quarterback Baker Mayfield (toe) and wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring/hip) should be fine for Sunday's game.
CLICK HERE for details on how to watch, stream or listen to the Buccaneers-49ers contest.
October 6 Updates
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, the NFL's leader in touchdown passes in 2024, did not take part in practice on Wednesday as his team began its preparations for a significant NFC showdown with the 49ers.
The Buccaneers held a walk-through on Wednesday rather than a full-speed practice to help a banged-up roster on a short week coming off Monday night's game in Kansas City. Therefore, Mayfield's participation is considered an estimate based on what he would have done in a full-speed practice. Notably, Mayfield said after the walk-through that he expects to play against the 49ers.
"A little sore but I'll be good to go by Sunday," he said.
Mayfield was one of five Buccaneers who were estimated as non-participants on Wednesday, along with wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring), wide receiver Jalen McMillan (hamstring), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring/hip) and safety Jordan Whitehead (quad). Evans is not expected back until after the Buccaneers' Week 11 bye and Head Coach Todd Bowles said McMillan has not improved since aggravating his injury in practice last Friday.
CLICK HERE to review the Bucs' first injury report of Week 10.
November 2 Updates
This week, the Buccaneers faced the possibility of a couple of sizeable holes in the middle of their defense, a daunting thought given the upcoming opponent is Patrick Mahomes and the undefeated Chiefs. However, Head Coach Todd Bowles delivered encouraging news after practice on Saturday.
Linebacker Lavonte David, the team's leading tackler, suffered an ankle sprain on Sunday against the Falcons and did not practice on Thursday or Friday. He was briefly on the field with a helmet on during the portion of practice open to the media on Saturday and Bowles indicated that he would be able to play on Monday night in Kansas City.
"He'll be fine," said Bowles.
During the same open portion of practice, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was on the field but did not have a helmet. He popped up on the injury report on Friday with a foot issue and was limited in practice that day after being a full participant on Thursday. Winfield previously missed four games earlier this season with a foot injury. Bowles also indicated that his All-Pro safety would be ready for the Chiefs game.
"It's sore but he'll be fine on Monday," said Bowles.
Bowles said three players have been ruled out for the game: long-snapper Evan Deckers, wide receiver Mike Evans and defensive lineman Greg Gaines. Deckers is currently on injured reserve but he is practicing with the team during a 21-day window in which he can be activated at any time. He won't be activated for Monday's game, however, so Zach Triner will continue to handle the snapping duties.
Bowles also revealed that rookie safety Tykee Smith cleared the last test in the NFL's concussion protocol on Saturday morning, which means he will be available on Monday night.
CLICK HERE for a preview of the Bucs-Chiefs Super Bowl LV rematch on Monday night.
November 1 Updates
Rookie safety Tykee Smith still needs to pass the final test in the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to game action, but he is making significant progress in that process this week.
On Friday, Smith was a full participant in the Buccaneers' two-hour practice after being limited in the first field session of the week. In addition, Smith was no longer wearing the black "no-contact" jersey that he wore in Thursday's practice.
Smith sat out Sunday's game against Atlanta after not practicing all in the week leading up to that Week Eight contest. He had suffered a concussion the previous Monday night against Baltimore. His return to the practice field this week could lead to him clearing concussion protocol in time to play on Monday night in Kansas City.
"It means he's getting better," said Head Coach Todd Bowles on Thursday. "He's got to pass the tests – that'll be the promising sign."
A third-round draft pick out of Georgia, Smith won a training camp battle for the slot corner job and manned that position through the first seven weeks before getting hurt. He has contributed 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one interception, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
CLICK HERE for a look at the Bucs' full injury report on Friday.
