Gaines (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against Atlanta, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Gaines popped up on the Bucs' injury report Thursday with a calf injury, which forced him to sit out of Friday's practice. The injury is severe enough for the 2019 fourth-round pick to be ruled out for Sunday's contest, and he'll work on making himself available for Tampa Bay's Week 9 contest against Kansas City on Monday, Nov. 4. Gaines has served as Vita Vea's primary backup at nose tackle this season, but C.J. Brewer will step up into that role with Gaines sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Won't play in Week 8
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Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday that Smith (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Smith sustained a concussion in the Buccaneers' Week 7 loss to the Ravens and has yet to pass through the NFL's five-step protocol. The rookie safety has recorded 33 total tackles and four passes defended, including one interception, through his first seven games. With Smith sidelined in Week 8, expect Tavierre Thomas to serve as Tampa Bay's top slot corner.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: DNP to open week
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Smith (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday's practice session.
Smith suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Monday's loss to the Ravens. The rookie third-round pick appears to be far from clearing the NFL's five-step concussion protocols, and unless he's able to practice in full this week, he's unlikely to suit up against the Falcons on Sunday. If Smith is sidelined, Tavierre Thomas and Christian Izien would be the top candidates to start at nickel corner alongside Zyon McCollum and Tyrek Funderburk.
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Buccaneers' SirVocea Dennis: Missing rest of regular season
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Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Dennis (shoulder) won't be available again in 2024 unless the Buccaneers reach the playoffs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Dennis recently underwent surgery to address a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4 versus the Eagles, and it now looks like he could be sidelined until 2025. In his absence, K.J. Britt figures to continue to play a near-every down role at inside linebacker next to Lavonte David.
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Buccaneers' Yaya Diaby: Registers second sack of season
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Diaby logged five solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, during Monday's 41-31 loss to Baltimore.
Diaby got his second sack of the season Monday, taking down Lamar Jackson for an eight-yard loss midway through the first quarter. The 2023 third-round pick has played at least 54 percent of the Bucs' defensive snaps in all seven regular-season games this year, and over that span he has accrued 19 tackles (15 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Leads Bucs with 10 tackles Monday
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Winfield logged 10 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens.
In his second game back from a foot injury, Winfield played every single defensive snap Monday. In addition to leading the Buccaneers with 10 tackles, he also managed to log his first sack of the season after taking down Lamar Jackson for a nine-yard loss midway through the first quarter, which forced the Ravens to punt on the next play. Winfield has logged 14 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery across his last two outings.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Done for night
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Smith (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Monday's contest against the Ravens.
Smith suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Monday's matchup and he'll miss the remainder of the game as a result. The cornerback will have one less day than normal to clear concussion protocol prior to Sunday's game against the Falcons.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Being evaluated for concussion
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Smith is being evaluated for a concussion during Monday night's game against the Ravens, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Smith suffered a blow to the head in the second quarter of Monday's contest against the Ravens while attempting to make a tackle, and his status for the rest of the game is up in the air. In his absence, Tavierre Thomas will see an uptick in usage at slot cornerback.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Active versus Baltimore
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Vea (hamstring) is active for Monday night's game against the Ravens.
Vea was a late addition to the injury report Saturday, when he was saddled with a questionable tag. However, an earlier report Monday from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had Vea as expected to play. He's good to go for a showdown with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Shifts to IR
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Dean (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dean was unable to practice all week and had been ruled out for Monday night's matchup against the Ravens after sustaining a hamstring injury the week prior. However, the Auburn product will now be forced to miss the Buccaneers' next four games after moving to IR, with his earliest possible return coming in Week 12 against the Giants. Expect Tyrek Funderburk and Josh Hayes to see increased work with Tampa Bay's first-team defense while Dean is sidelined for the foreseeable future.
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Buccaneers' Earnest Brown: Activated Monday
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The Buccaneers activated Brown (ribs) off their injured reserve list Monday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
The Northwestern product has yet to suit up for Tampa Bay this season after sustaining a rib injury in early September, but Monday's activation suggests he's moved past the issue. Brown appeared in seven games with the Rams in 2023, recording five total tackles across just 54 snaps. He's expected to serve as a rotational defensive lineman in the Buccaneers' Week 7 matchup against the Ravens on Monday night.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Expects to play Monday
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Vea (hamstring) is expected to play Monday versus the Ravens, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Vea was a late addition to Tampa Bay's injury report Saturday, when he apparently picked up a hamstring issue, but it seems like he'll suit up in Week 7 regardless. It's bad news for Baltimore's rushing attack, as Vea is as impactful against the run as any other player in the league.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Late addition to injury report
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Vea (hamstring) did not practice Saturday, and he is listed as questionable for Monday's game against Baltimore, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, but he popped up on Saturday's injury report due to a hamstring issue. Given his late addition to the injury report, that could make Vea a game-time decision for Monday's game unless the team announces his status earlier. Greg Gaines started at nose tackle for Vea earlier in the year while the latter was dealing with an MCL sprain in his right knee.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Won't play vs. Baltimore
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Dean (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Ravens, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Dean suffered a hamstring injury during the Bucs' Week 6 win over the Saints. The injury was severe enough to keep him out of practice Thursday and Friday, and the 2019 third-round pick will miss his first game of the regular season. Tyrek Funderburk played 56 defensive snaps against New Orleans after Dean left, and the former should draw the start at corner opposite Zyon McCollum for Monday's contest.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Practices in full
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Winfield (foot) was a full participant in Friday's practice.
Winfield was a limited participant in Thursday's practice following his first game back from a foot injury. However, the All-Pro safety upgraded to full participation Friday and now appears to have mostly moved past the issue. Expect Winfield to suit up for Monday night's matchup against the Ravens, barring any setbacks.
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Buccaneers' Christian Izien: Full go Friday
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Izien (elbow) was a full participant in Friday's practice.
Izien upgraded from limited work Thursday to a full practice Friday, suggesting he's moved past his elbow injury. The Rutgers product is now expected to play in Monday night's matchup against the Ravens unless his practice participation downgrades Saturday.
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Buccaneers' Christian Izien: Limited workload Thursday
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Izien (elbow) was a limited participant at Thursday's practice.
Izien is in danger of missing his second straight game. However, his limited workload Thursday is a progression from last week's string of DNPs. Antoine Winfield (foot) was also limited Thursday, and Izien would presumably be next man up if the starting safety is ultimately unable to give it a go. The Buccaneers do not play until Monday night against the Ravens, affording both players an extra day to get healthy.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Limited Thursday
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Winfield was a limited participant at Thursday's practice due to foot injury.
Winfield may have aggravated the injury that previously caused a four-game absence during his return in Sunday's blowout win over the Saints. Alternatively, the Buccaneers may just be engaging in some longer-term injury management. Winfield scored a touchdown against New Orleans via a fumble recovery while also producing four solo tackles. The starting free safety's status for Monday's matchup with the Chargers will become clearer as the week progresses, but Christian Izien (elbow) would be next in line should Winfield's status worsen.
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Buccaneers' Jamel Dean: Non-participant Thursday
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Dean (hamstring) was unable to participate in Thursday's practice.
Dean recorded just one solo tackle across 10 defensive snaps before exiting the Buccaneers' Week 6 win over the Saints early due to a hamstring injury. His absence at Thursday's practice indicates his status for Week 7 is up in the air. More clarity should come over the next few days, but Tyrek Funderburk and Josh Hayes would be candidates for more snaps should Dean be unable to play.
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Buccaneers' Zyon McCollum: Acrobatic INT in win
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McCollum posted a solo tackle, an interception and an additional pass defensed in the Buccaneers' 51-27 win over the Saints on Sunday.
McCollum made a leaping interception of a Spencer Rattler pass intended for Rashid Shaheed on the first play of the fourth quarter, his second pick of the season. McCollum's tackle total tied a season low despite the fact he logged a robust 66 snaps, but he continued to display his knack for getting his hands on the ball and now has a career-high 10 pass breakups through six games.
