Category: Latest Team News

Is Vita Vea playing against the Ravens? Injury updates for Bucs DL

Vita Vea missed some time earlier in the season, and since he returned to the lineup, the entire defense has had a facelift.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been dealing with some injuries, most notably with Mike Evans. However, there is also a major injury on the defensive side that is worth monitoring: Vita Vea.

Vita Vea missed some time earlier in the season, and since he returned to the lineup, the entire defense has had a facelift. The run defense he offers as well as his ability to get pressure on the quarterback.

We got an update on his status for the game against the Ravens in primetime early on Monday.

Vita Vea injury update

Vita Vea popped up on the injury report late at the end of last week with a hamstring injury. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Vea will be available and start for the Bucs on Monday night despite the issue.

Vea has a sack in three straight games for the Bucs since returning to the lineup. He will have a tall task to do som against reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. His presence alone will help the defense, but it is yet to be seen how impactful he will be with his injury or if he will be on a snap count.

Bucs defensive lineman depth chart

  • Vita Vea
  • Calijah Kancey
  • Logan Hall
  • Greg Gaines
  • C.J. Brewer
  • William Gholston

Is Mike Evans playing today? Injury updates for Bucs WR

Mike Evans remained on the team’s injury report, which was published on Saturday. This time, he received a game-time decision designation.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had Mike Evans this past Sunday against the Saints, but he was limited. He didn’t have his usual workload, and it was noticeable that he wasn’t playing at 100%.

On Monday, Evans will be going for history with his 100th receiving touchdown, but only if he can play, which remains up in the air.

Mike Evans injury update

Mike Evans remained on the team’s injury report, which was published on Saturday. This time, however, he received a game-time decision designation.

Todd Bowles updated the situation, saying, “He tweaked his leg. He didn’t practice today, but he’s getting better. We’ll see how the week goes with him. . .it’s been nagging.”

This likely means that Evans will test it out before the game and the team will determine his status based on how it responds to the work.

Bucs wide receiver depth chart

  • Mike Evans
  • Chris Godwin
  • Jalen McMillan
  • Sterling Shepard
  • Kameron Johnson*
  • Trey Palmer*

Todd Bowles recoignizes the trouble Ravens rushing attack presents

The Baltimore Ravens’ rushing attack presents a unique challenge for Todd Bowles and the Bucs’ defense.

The Baltimore Ravens’ rushing attack presents a unique challenge for Todd Bowles and the Bucs’ defense. The Bucs’ defensive front is finally healthy, and it is doing so at the right time as this team prepares to face Baltimore on Monday.

Todd Bowles is up for the challenge and commented on whether it is a measuring stick for his defense.

“Every week is a measuring stick for us. You’ve got to win different ways – it’s not going to always be running the football. We’ve got to find different ways to win.”

The measuring stick is going to be tested bu Derrick Henry, who is leading the NFL in rushing with 704 yards. Henry is looking fresher than ever with the Ravens and his whopping 5.9 yards per rushing attempt backs that idea up.

Not to be outdone, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson is also looking to be on pace for a career year as a runner. He has bulked up to handle more attempts and is on pace for 1,141 rushing yards this year.

The Ravens will be a measuring stick for this entire Bucs team on Monday, not just the defense.

Is Mike Evans playing against the Ravens? Injury update for Bucs WR

TEAMA POSITION PLAYER NAME (ex Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa) is dealing with a [BLANK] injury. Here are the latest updates.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had Mike Evans this past Sunday against the Saints, but he was limited. He didn’t have his usual workload, and it was noticeable that he wasn’t playing at 100%.

On Thursday, Todd Bowles and Mike Evans were able to offer some updates on his lingering hamstring injury.

Mike Evans injury update

Mike Evans remained on the team’s injury report, and his status has not yet been made official. It will become official on the team’s final injury report, which will be posted on Saturday instead of Friday because their game is on Monday.

Todd Bowles updated the situation, saying, “He tweaked his leg. He didn’t practice today, but he’s getting better. We’ll see how the week goes with him. . .it’s been nagging.”

How long will Mike Evans be out?

Mike Evans shouldn’t miss anything more than this week, if any, but even that is speculatory. His being able to play in Sunday’s game with the injury hints that it could be just what Bowles is telling the media. Sometimes, nagging injuries can be worked out, sometimes not.

Wide receiver depth chart

  • Mike Evans
  • Chris Godwin
  • Sterling Shepard
  • Jalen McMillan
  • Trey Palmer (Listed on injury report)
  • Kameron Johnson (Listed on injury report)

Bucs’ Chris Godwin leads NFL in a key receiving catgeories through Week 6

Through six games, the Bucs wide receiver has been on a tear and leads all receivers in the NFL in not just one but multiple key categories.

Having a sure-handed wide receiver like Chris Godwin is a luxury. Through six games, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver has been on a tear and leads all receivers in the NFL in not just one but multiple key categories.

Godwin leads the way for wide receivers with a minimum of 25 targets on the season, catching 84.3% of on-target throws in his direction by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who completes 43-of-51 passes. Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase trails with an 82.9 catch rate on 10-less targets (41), supplying Mayfield with a 138.3 passer rating when he tosses the ball toward Godwin.

Receiving yards has Godwin positioned with the third-most at 510 behind Houston Texans’ Nico Collins (566) and the Bengals’ Chase (565). Where Godwin begins to set himself apart from the pack is his 335 yards after catch eclipse that of the second-place Chase (268), who is more commonly known as an explosive receiver, by 67. The only slot receiver in the NFL who averages more yards after catch per reception is Green Bay’s Jayden Reed with 8.1 YAC/REC. He also is tied with Chase, Allen Lazard, and fellow Buccaneers Mike Evans to lead the NFL with 5 TD.

Godwin’s chemistry with Mayfield has generated a league-leading 30 receiving first downs through six games. To make things impressive, Godwin is ranked 55th in the league for average depth of target (ADOT) at just 5.2 yards- essentially half (10.3) of what he saw in Dave Canales’ offense last season.

The Texans connection between quarterback CJ Stroud and Collins has generated the second-most receiving first downs on the season with 27, with an ADOT of 12.0- nearly three times that of Godwin.

Currently on pace for a career year with 122 receptions, 1445 yards, and 14 touchdowns, The 28-year old Godwin is picking no better time to produce even higher numbers than what Bucs fans have grown accustomed to, as he is playing in the final year of his three-year contract.

The Bucs see biggest move in ESPN’s Football Power Index after Week 6

Entering Week 6 as ESPN’s 15th-ranked team on its Football Power Index, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw the most significant move up the ranks.

Entering Week 6 as ESPN’s 15th-ranked team on its Football Power Index, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw the most significant move up the ranks and landed in the Top 10 following their 51-27 win over the New Orleans Saints.

The Bucs put together a complete game on both sides of the ball, despite allowing 20 unanswered points in the 2nd quarter. Putting 51 points on the scoreboard against a division opponent on the road and being displaced much earlier in the week due to Hurricane Milton, it was no surprise to see the upward movement on ESPN’s FPI.

Not only did the Bucs beat the Saints by 24 points, but the dominating victory caused the Saints to slide 19 spots. At the same time, the Carolina Panthers remained in position, and the Atlanta Falcons jumped up two positions after beating the Panthers in Charlotte 38-20. With the Falcons taking the first game in the series with the Bucs and currently having the same record, the Bucs sit in second place in the NFC South standings- making their Week 8 rematch in Tampa much more important.

  • Buccaneers: 10 (15)
  • Falcons: 15 (17)
  • Saints: 29 (10)
  • Panthers: 30 (30)

How ESPN’s Football Power Index is determined

The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points a team is above or below average. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections are updated daily.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Headlining the team with 136 rushing yards, three receptions for 56 yards, and two total touchdowns was Bucs running back Sean Tucker.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers set a franchise record with 594 net yards of offense in Sunday’s 51-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

While the Saints’ defense posted a box score that showed three interceptions, they had no answer for the Bucs’ offensive attack. Headlining the team with 136 rushing yards, three receptions for 56 yards, and two total touchdowns was Bucs running back Sean Tucker, who has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 6.

Not only did the second-year running back gash the Saints defense, averaging a sweltering 9.7 yards per carry on 14 carries, but Tucker’s 192 yards from scrimmage were also the third-highest in a single game through six weeks of the 2024 NFL season, trailing only Derrick Henry’s 209-yard and Ja’Marr Chase’s 193-yard performances.

Following Tucker’s dominating performance, he entered elite company, becoming the fourth RB in Bucs franchise history (Doug Martin x2, Warrick Dunn x2, and James Wilder) to total 192+ yards from scrimmage.

Adding further to the impressive resume that Tucker built in Week 6, this becomes the first Offensive Player of the Week award that a Bucs running back has won since Leonard Fournette against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 of 2021.

Bucs set franchise record for offensive yards against Saints

No team has had a more eventful 10-day stretch than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but on Sunday they were able to push it all aside.

No team has had a more eventful 10-day stretch than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From last week’s overtime shootout loss to the Atlanta Falcons to being displaced over 700 miles in New Orleans since Tuesday due to Hurricane Milton, the Bucs had all the makings of a “putting up a dud” coming into their Week 6 divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

From the opening kickoff, where the Bucs elected to receive the ball, they never really let off the gas on the offensive side of the ball.

In fact, when the final whistle blew, the Bucs set a new franchise record for offensive yards with a net total of 594. Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker combined for 277 yards on the ground, while Baker Mayfield threw for 325 yards in the air.

The previous record of 588 yards came from a Tom Brady-led 47-7 win over the Detroit Lions in 2020, the year the Bucs won the Super Bowl.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean declared OUT with hamstring injury against Saints

The Bucs starting cornerback left their game against the New Orleans Saints and was quickly declared out.

Things are getting chaotic in New Orleans for the Bucs defense.

Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean exited Tampa Bay’s Week 6 matchup with the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury. He required assistance to leave the field and was quickly declared out for the rest of the game.

Undrafted rookie cornerback Tyrek Funderburk entered the game in Dean’s place. Just as the Bucs started to get healthy on defense with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Calijah Kancey returning, the Bucs’ secondary took yet another hit.

Cornerback Bryce Huff is already on injured reserve.

Thankfully, for the secondary, despite being beaten up with a loaded injury report, they got Antoine Winfield Jr. back, and he has made an impact. Zyon McCollum has played well so far for the Bucs in place of several starters. With Dean going out, the role for McCollum will be expected to expand to help Funderbunk play more meaningful reps as well.

Tampa Bay sports homes offering refuge ahead of Hurricane Milton

The city and state officials are going above and beyond to help folks in the area who cannot evacuate remain safe. 

Hurricane Milton follows Hurricane Helene, which just ravaged the state of Florida. Helene made its way north, bringing the worst of its storm to those in the Appalachian region of the United States, but Milton isn’t going anywhere but Florida.

As a result, city and state officials are going above and beyond to help folks in the area who cannot evacuate remain safe.

One major way they do that is by turning the Tampa Bay area’s sporting venues into shelters and headquarters for first responders. The biggest is the Rays Tropicana Field, which is turned into a shelter for residents and a base for first responders.

The city has told everyone to evacuate that has the means to do so. If you cannot, check to see what shelters are available, as officials have stated it is much safer there than staying in your home.

At the time of this publication, the storm was once again a Category 4 after increasing to a Category 5 last night.