This has been a week to forget for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as far as injuries after the loss of a pair of starters to season ending injuries in interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and guard Cody Mauch as well as starting right offensive tackle Luke Goedeke being placed on injured reserve.
Aside from those calamities, there weren’t many surprises with Tampa Bay’s inactives report for their Week 3 home opener against the New York Jets.
The players on the inactives report for the Buccaneers against the Jets were offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, wide receiver Chris Godwin, tight end Devin Culp, cornerback Kindle Vildor, running back Josh Williams and safety Rashad Wisdom.
For the Buccaneers, the biggest inactives report of the year should come in Week 4 when they host the defending Super bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. That game should serve as the season debut for a pair of NFL All-Pros in Wirfs and Godwin.
Even though Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (ankle) and OT Tristan Wirfs (knee) both were ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Jets, both players have a ‘strong chance’ to make their season debuts next Sunday at home vs. the Eagles, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Both Godwin and Wirfs are expected to start practice reps this week with the starters and, if all goes well and there are no setbacks, they are expected to play next Sunday.”
The Buccaneers are 2-0 after a pair of fourth quarter comebacks in their first 2 games and the Jets are 0-2.
One key player the Buccaneers will have is rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was on the fence after hurting his groin against the Texans.
“Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka, who is questionable (hip, groin), is expected to play Sunday vs. Jets, per sources,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account. “The rookie has three touchdowns through two games.”
– run game will be essential without a complete front line (utilizing Bucky Irving and Rachaad White) – get the ball out fast offensively, use more quick tempos and rollouts – clean blocks for the fill-ins on OL – get a turnover on defense, needed to help
How To Watch Buccaneers-Jets in Week 3
Here’s everything you need to know to watch the Buccaneers host the Jets in Week 3:
- When: 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
- Records: Buccaneers 2-0, Jets 0-2
- Odds: TB -6.5
- O/U: 43.5
Jets Facing Own Injury Issues At Quarterback
The Jets are dealing with injury issues at the most important position on the field as starting quarterback Justin Fields is out with a concussion.
“First-year coach Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday that veteran Tyrod Taylor will start under center for the winless Jets in their first road game of the season,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote. “Glenn, who said earlier this week that the Jets were preparing for the possibility of Taylor starting, added Wednesday that Fields remains in concussion protocol.”
The 36-year-old Taylor hasn’t started an NFL game since 2022 with the New York Giants, when he went 2-3 in 5 starts after starting quarterback Daniel Jones tore his ACL.
Taylor, who is in his 15th season, is 28-28-1 as a starter and was a Pro Bowler in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills.
The Jets are Taylor’s seventh team in 15 seasons. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round (No. 180 overall) in 2011 and won a Super Bowl as Joe Flacco’s backup in his second season.
Buccaneers Brace For Uncertainty After Spate of Crushing Injuries