Buccaneers Face Major Hurdles After Losing Key Starter. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a significant setback on Monday night, losing two key offensive players: Mike Evans, who suffered a hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin, who dislocated his ankle and was ruled out for the season. This leaves a considerable gap in their offensive production.
Both Evans and Godwin are crucial to Tampa Bay’s passing game, so the team will need support from all positions to defend their home field against the Atlanta Falcons. Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are expected to step up as the main receivers, but the Buccaneers may also rely more heavily on their running backs.
Rookie Bucky Irving is part of this trio, though his status was uncertain this week due to a foot injury. Fortunately, it seems he will be ready to play on Sunday. “Barring anything happening, he should be okay,” said Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. “It’s a toe injury he’s dealt with since college.” While Rachaad White and Sean Tucker provide additional options, Irving has been the most reliable runner this season, leading the team with 351 yards on 67 carries and three touchdowns.
With Irving in the mix, the Buccaneers can use White and Tucker in different roles. Tucker might take on limited carries but has shown he can handle more if needed. White, on the other hand, adds a vital receiving threat that quarterback Baker Mayfield will rely on, as he is currently the second-leading receiver on the team with 198 yards from 23 receptions and two touchdowns.
In their previous matchup against the Falcons, both teams showcased strong offensive performances. This time, Tampa Bay may want to avoid a high-scoring game, meaning Irving and the running backs might need to carry a heavier workload.
Leave a Reply