Todd Bowles makes decision on whether Bucs fans will see starters on the field against the Buffalo Bills in preseason finale
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into their final game of the preseason on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. Tampa Bay fans in attendance hoping to get a sneak peek of their team’s starters will have to wait several more weeks for that to happen. According to Todd Bowles on Thursday morning, no starters will be […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into their final game of the preseason on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. Tampa Bay fans in attendance hoping to get a sneak peek of their team’s starters will have to wait several more weeks for that to happen.
According to Todd Bowles on Thursday morning, no starters will be playing for Tampa Bay against the Bills.
That’s a smart decision by Bowles, as at this point, prioritizing health has to be the most important thing. The Bucs are banged up at a number of positions, but particularly at wide receiver and in the secondary.
In fact, the Bucs suffered losses in both areas the last time they trotted out some important individuals. WR Jalen McMillan suffered a neck injury after landing awkwardly following a catch last weekend against Pittsburgh. It’s one that Bowles previously said is “severe” and will potentially keep him out for the first half of the season on injured reserve. Defensive back Christian Izien also suffered an oblique injury that clouds his availability for the start of the season.
Tampa Bay is already going to be without WR Chris Godwin for the start of the season, and beyond Izien, a number of other defensive backs are banged up a bit, including Antoine Winfield, Jr., Benjamin Morrison, and JJ Roberts (who went on injured reserve with a knee injury).
The Bucs have been bitten by other injuries since the team started training camp, with Rachaad White suffering a groin injury during the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. At some point, you’ve got to say, “enough is enough”, and that appears to be the case with the Bucs and the injury bug for the short remainder of this preseason.
The Bucs and Bills get underway in their preseason finale on Saturday at 7:30 pm at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
