Tampa Bay Buccaneers get great initial news towards area they have to shore up against Washington Commanders
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter their Wild Card round matchup with the Washington Commanders feeling good about themselves after a securing their fourth straight division title with a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints. The win was the team's sixth in their last seven games after entering the bye week 4-6. However, one area […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter their Wild Card round matchup with the Washington Commanders feeling good about themselves after a securing their fourth straight division title with a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints. The win was the team's sixth in their last seven games after entering the bye week 4-6.
However, one area that's been a significant concern for the Bucs got hit with a double dose of bad news last weekend. Safety Jordan Whitehead was injured in a car accident and appears to be out for the playoffs. Another safety, Mike Edwards, was hurt during the win on Sunday.
They're a couple of hits that were tough to take for a group that's already been banged up. Antoine Winfield, Jr. has been out for weeks with a knee injury. Christian Izien is on injured reserve.
Fortunately, the Bucs might be in position to get a huge boost to the group at a time when they sorely need it.
Per Todd Bowles during his press conference, he estimated Winfield as a full practice participant for Wednesday. It's listed as an estimation because the Bucs had a walkthrough on Wednesday, but he believed Winfield would have been a full go for a typical practice.
It goes without saying that the Jayden Daniels and the Commanders' offense poses a significant risk in the middle of the field, both in the passing game and on the ground with Daniels' running ability. When Tampa Bay and Washington faced off in Week 1, a 37-20 Bucs win, Daniels was just learning the offense and working on his connections with Terry McLaurin and his other targets. They've obviously developed a very comfortable rapport over the season. Having the Bucs' best defender back on the field to help would be immeasurably helpful to try to slow Washington's formidable offense again this time around.
We'll find out for sure if Winfield – as well as Jamel Dean, Edwards, and Cade Otton – will be able to shake off their injuries and suit up for the Bucs when the final injury report is released on Friday afternoon.