The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the lowly Carolina Panthers this Sunday in an NFC South showdown. Although it would appear that the Buccaneers will have an edge over the Panthers, who are just 1-10 on the season, that will not be the case as multiple key starters and players are already being ruled out for the contest.
Both starting linebackers, Lavonte David and Devin White, will be out with David recovering from a groin injury and White dealing with a foot injury. Another key piece from the linebacker group, rookie SirVocea Dennis, is also listed as doubtful as he is battling an illness.
In their place, backup linebackers K.J. Britt and J.J. Russell will have to pick up the slack and play major minutes to help fill the roles left by White and David. With both starters already being listed as OUT, head coach Todd Bowles gave his thoughts on his new starters,
Obviously, Britt and Russell aren’t White or David, so it will be imperative that the defense work together as a whole to try and stop rookie quarterback Bryce Young and the Carolina offense.
Staying with the defense, the Bucs also have ruled out starting corner Jamel Dean due to his ankle/foot injury that he suffered a couple of weeks back.
With the defense reeling with injuries, the Bucs’ offense will need to be at their best and put up points regularly to keep the defense off the field as much as possible. The Bucs could take a hit on this side of the ball as well as Chris Godwin recently showed up on the injury report as questionable with a neck injury.
When questioned about Godwin’s injury and who will help fill that role if he is indeed going to miss the game. Coach Todd Bowles relayed that the injury was a re-aggravated one and that the normal guys would be the ones to get Godwin’s snaps.
Godwin hasn’t quite been himself in the Bucs’ offense this season, but the loss of a consistent, quality veteran such as himself definitely hurts. However, the emergence of Palmer and Thompkins has helped ease the pain as each has shown flashes of being able to handle the duties asked of them.