Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 4

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (knee) and WR Chris Godwin (neck) — both listed as questionable — will play tonight against the Bills.

DT Vita Vea (groin) is also questionable and will be a true game-day decision.

Good news for the Buccaneers offense in general, but Mayfield doesn't need to be in consideration for a fantasy start this week. Godwin can be considered a WR2.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield landed on Monday’s estimated practice report as a non-participant because of a knee injury, but he didn’t sound like there’s any concern about his status for Thursday’s game against the Bills.

The injury report was an estimated one because the Bucs only held a walkthrough a day after their loss to the Falcons and Mayfield was spotted at their second walkthrough of the week on Tuesday. After the session, Mayfield said that the knee issue isn’t serious and that he’s confident he’ll manage it well over the next few days, the story went on to say.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans is “full go” for Sunday, coach Todd Bowles said.

Related Players: Chris Godwin, Deven Thompkins

The Bye Week clearly did Evans some good, and he should make a great 1-2 punch for Baker Mayfield in the team's highly-projected contest against the Lions.

Belief is Bucs WR Mike Evans has a mild hamstring injury from Sunday, per sources.

As Fowler went on to say, it all bodes well for his return post-bye, but he’ll undergo an MRI today to confirm. The Bucs do have later afternoon game in Week 6, however, so owners will want to start keeping tabs on Evans again next week. Tampa will host the Lions.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans' hamstring issue is considered minor.

Rapoport called it more of a hamstring "tweak." He said it didn't seem to be major injury and he didn't have a noticeable limp after the game, which is all good news. We'll have to monitor the injury leading up to Week 6 as the Bucs have a bye in Week 5.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans and Bengals WR Tee Higgins have both left their games Sunday with hamstring and rib injuries, respectively.

Evans had 40 yards on three catches while Higgins finished with 19 yards on two catches. Evans tried to return for the second half and was on the bike trying to get back into the game but wound up returning to the locker room. For Higgins, a tough start to the season continues. He had 10 catches for 110 yards coming into today's game but 8 catches and 89 yards came in Week 2 against the Ravens.

Buccaneers running back Chase Edmonds is headed for tests on his injured knee.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Edmonds will have an MRI on Monday after leaving Sunday’s win over the Bears with an injury. There is particular concern about an injury to Edmonds’ MCL.

Related players: Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, Ke'Shawn Vaughn

Edmonds signed with the Bucs in March and he’s seen action on offense and special teams over the first two weeks of the season. He had two carries for eight yards in the opener and two carries for 12 yards against the Bears. White and Tucker are the top two backs for the Bucs but this injury could mean Vaughn gets into the lineup as the RB3 if Edmonds misses time.

While it was assumed a talent of Sean Tucker's caliber could make the roster if healthy, climbing the depth chart to plant himself as the main backup to Rachaad White was impressive. Going from undrafted to RB2 means a lot to the rookie runner.

“I just want to showcase my talents and provide whatever I can to the team,” Tucker said. “I want to help us win going into the season and just making the 53 (man roster) is a dream come true and is somewhere I’ve always wanted to be.”

Related players: Chase Edmonds, Ke'Shawn Vaughn

Tucker's story is a great one. At one time he was primed to be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft, but ended up not even getting drafted. He signed with the Bucs after the draft and from there climbed the depth chart and beat out veterans Edmonds and Vaughn. Tucker ran for 81 yards on 23 carries, adding 22 yards on five receptions. He also had a 12-yard touchdown called back against the Steelers. Tucker seems like a smart pickup for those who own White in leagues this season.

Mike Evans has set a Week 1 deadline to receive a new contract from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with his representation indicating the wide receiver will look to play elsewhere in 2024 if no deal is reached.

Related Players: Chris Godwin

This is a bit of odd timing, as we are one week away from the regular season kickoff. There were rumors during the beginning of the offseason about the team possibly looking to trade Evans or Chris Godwin and eye a rebuild, but those died down quickly.
Deal or no deal, all signs point towards Evans suiting up for the Bucs in Week 1 and throughout the 2023 season.

This is consistent with Dave Canales’ philosophy of “taking the quarterback off the high dive” and making him “more of a distributor.” Taking less risks through the air and incrementally moving the ball downfield can work as long as the ground game is consistent, and avoid penalties, which was a huge problem in the first preseason game (12 of them).

Related players: Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Rachaad White

The story said the offense did just that in the final preseason tune-up. Mayfield went 6-for-6 for 43 yards. Godwin accounted for 39 of those yards on four catches, with 22 coming after the catch - which also included a TD. Evans missed the game with a hamstring injury, but the team says he'll be good to go in Week 1. Mayfield is currently ranked 31st among our QBs with Godwin and Evans more WR3 targets in drafts heading into this season. Both WRs can be had between rounds 6-8, according to ADPs.