The Buccaneers have placed receiver Russell Gage on injured reserve, formally ending his 2023 season.

Gage suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee last week during a joint practice with the Jets, an injury that will sideline him for the year.

Related players: Deven Thompkins, Trey Palmer

After signing with the Bucs in the 2022 offseason, Gage caught 51 passes for 426 yards with five touchdowns last year in 13 games. Thompkins and Palmer are next up behind Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

Russell Gage is down and surrounded by trainers, in obvious duress. A cart has been brought out to take him off the field.

Related Players: Trey Palmer, David Moore, Deven Thompkins

Very unfortunate news for Gage, who was likely to get quite a lot of run this season, even after the trade rumors surrounding Chris Godwin and Mike Evans came and went. Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins are both projected as kick returners, so one of them may get extra snaps as a speedy slot option, depending on the severity of Gage's injury.

The Buccaneers have their first full practice of the week Thursday. All three guys held out Sunday — RB Leonard Fournette, WR Russell Gage, G Luke Goedeke — are practicing today.

Related Players: Rachaad White

While this points towards Fournette playing in Week 13, it's likely he takes a back seat to Rachaad White, who has been incredibly more efficient with the ball in his hands than the veteran has been looking in 2022. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach with Fournette, while White could be considered a RB2/3 if they are forced to split the backfield.

Todd Bowles says Antoine Winfield will miss Sunday’s game, as will Cam Brate, Russell Gage, and Luke Goedeke.

Related Players: Cade Otton

Though Cade Otton’s end result in Week 8 was nothing to get excited about (2.5 half-PPR points, 15 yards), the fact is, he is still getting incredible usage. Otton’s 44 routes run were the second-most of any tight end in the league last week, and this comes on the heels of a 37-route (third-highest) performance in the week prior. He should be considered a fringe TE1/TE2 option, even in a difficult matchup against the Rams.

It's actually six Bucs players ruled out, as Russell Gage was also ruled out (hamstring). So Gage, Cameron Brate, Goedeke, Davis, Winfield, Murphy-Bunting all out. Akiem Hicks would make it seven out, meaning Kyle Trask dresses as third QB.

Related players: Julio Jones, Breshad Perriman, Scott Miller, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans

Reports also say Jones will come down to a game-time call, meaning Miller and Perriman should see more time behind the big-two of Godwin and Evans.

Buccaneers WRs Chris Godwin, Julio Jones and Russell Gage are all active tonight against the Chiefs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inactives

QB Kyle Trask
TE Kyle Rudolph
WR Scotty Miller
WR Breshad Perriman
CB Zyon McCollum
DL Akiem Hicks

Julio Jones joined Chris Godwin on the sideline Thursday afternoon, and now it's possible the team will be without their top-three receiver options on Sunday, with Mike Evans serving a one-game suspension.

Related Players: Russell Gage, Cole Beasley

Tom Brady is going to have an uphill battle in Week 3 with Gage, Beasley, and some rotation of Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, and Cameron Brate operating as his receiving options. It's as if he's back in his final years with the Patriots. Brady is ranked as a borderline QB1/2 this week with Russell Gage likely having the highest ceiling in Sunday's matchup against the Packers.

Today’s Bucs-Packers injury report...still no Donovan Smith. Julio Jones and Chris Godwin also still not practicing. Carlton Davis is a new addition to the list. So is Robert Hainsey and Scotty Miller...

Related players: Breshad Perriman, Russell Gage, Scotty Miller

Jones probably has a better chance of playing this week than Godwin according to reports. But, Perriman, Gage and Miller only logged limited practice time Wednesday, too. Mike Evans is suspended and the team recently signed Cole Beasley. The Packers and Bucs are a late afternoon game on Sunday so owners of Tampa Bay WRs will want to be prepared heading into Week 3.

The NFL upheld Mike Evans’ one-game suspension for hitting Saints’ CB Marshon Lattimore. Evans is now officially out for Sunday’s game vs. the Green Bay Packers.

Related players: Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, Russell Gage, Breshad Perriman, Scott Miller

Evans appealed the suspension but will still have to sit for Week 3. The Bucs could be hurting a bit at WR when they take on the Packers. Goodwin is dealing with a hamstring injury and doesn't look like he'll play. Jones was reportedly close to playing Week 2 and is still dealing with a knee injury. Gage, Perriman and Miller would be up next on the depth chart.