That is how dire the damage state of affairs has turn out to be for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: As an alternative of holding an everyday follow Wednesday, they have been pressured right into a walk-through as a substitute.
“We most likely had extra those who could not follow than may follow,” mentioned coach Todd Bowles.
The NFC South-leading Buccaneers (3-1), coming off their first lack of the season to defending Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia, will make a cross-country journey to face the Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday afternoon. Each groups are celebrating the fiftieth anniversaries of their 1976 enlargement seasons and can put on throwback uniforms.
Who will likely be out there to play for the Bucs stays to be seen.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee/biceps) was amongst 9 Bucs who did not take part in follow on Wednesday. That checklist additionally included working again Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and vast receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Sterling Shepherd (foot). On protection, nostril sort out Greg Gaines (pectoral) and defensive backs Jamel Dean (hip), Christian Izien (quad), Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and Tykee Smith (ankle) all sat out.
In all there are 16 gamers listed on Tampa Bay’s damage report this week.
“I imply (we had a) good walk-through tempo,” Mayfield mentioned. “However yeah, I feel guys are conscious, they bought the message. They perceive what we’re attempting to get carried out. Particularly in an surroundings that we’ll be moving into. So, it is clear and concise and the fellows get it.”
Mayfield rallied the Bucs to victories in every of the primary three weeks of the season, however they could not overcome a three-touchdown deficit towards the Eagles in falling 31-25.
“You are not going to beat the Tremendous Bowl champs turning the ball over thrice,” Bowles mentioned, together with a blocked punt in his workforce’s turnover whole. “The combat, we’ll have it each week. However you’ll be able to’t get behind the eight-ball, down 14-0 (eight minutes into the sport) and count on to win. We have to scrub up the errors.”
The Seahawks have received three straight since a season-opening loss at dwelling to San Francisco to maneuver right into a tie atop the NFC West. They defeated host Arizona 23-20 final Thursday with Jason Myers kicking a 52-yard discipline aim as time expired after they blew a 14-point lead within the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold threw for 242 yards and a landing for Seattle. Signed within the offseason, he has 905 yards passing with 5 touchdowns and a 70% completion charge.
“I feel it is his decisiveness on how he is enjoying,” mentioned Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. “He is staying true to his reads and he is rocking it when it is there and when it isn’t, he is progressing after which checking it down or utilizing his legs, and that is what we’re asking him to do. And I feel he is doing it clearly at a very excessive degree proper now.”
Darnold and Mayfield have some historical past, as they have been among the many high picks within the 2018 draft. Mayfield went No. 1 to Cleveland and Darnold was the No. 3 choice by the New York Jets. Each bounced round and even performed collectively on the Carolina Panthers through the 2022 season earlier than lastly discovering houses within the NFL.
The Seahawks could possibly be with out defensive finish Demarcus Lawrence, who suffered a quad damage early in final week’s victory. Offensive sort out Josh Jones (ankle), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and security Julian Love (hamstring) additionally missed follow Wednesday.
–Discipline Degree Media
