Bucs Have A Lot Of Starters Out On Initial Week 3 Injury Report

The Bucs are coming off of a short week and a physical season as they begin the season 2-0 set the sights on Week 3. Every game is important and this will have a little more fanfare as it’s the season opener for Tampa Bay and they will be wearing their 1976 throwback uniforms against the Jets on Sunday.

Who exactly will be wearing those uniforms for the Bucs is another story. If it wasn’t bad enough that defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is on injured reserve and Luke Goedeke is out for several weeks, the Bucs had a handful of starters that did not practice on Wednesday, although it was a walkthrough.

The two big concerns are wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and right guard Cody Mauch. Egbuka has been fantastic for the Bucs in the opening two NFL games of his career, scoring three touchdowns. That’s the most by a rookie in the first two games of their career in Bucs history. Tampa Bay is already down Chris Godwin Jr., and while the depth of the Bucs at receiver is deep, Egbuka has been a special talent.

While the team has gone with a makeshift offensive line through two games, the one mainstay of the unit has been Mauch at right guard. He’s the only offensive lineman that has played his original position this season. Losing Mauch, especially if Tristan Wirfs can’t return at tackle, would put the Bucs in a gigantic bind. Their options to replace him are Luke Haggard and second year player Elijah Kelin, but we’ll see how the week continues.

The Jets have their own injury problems to deal with, including being without starting quarterback Justin Fields for this game. Here is the injury report for the Bucs and Jets on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

Bucs Wednesday Injury Report

WR Emeka Egbuka – Hip/Groin – Did Not Participate
T Luke Goedeke – Foot – Did Not Participate
DT Calijah Kancey – Pectoral – Did Not Participate (Injured Reserve)
G Cody Mauch – Knee – Did Not Participate
LB SirVocea Dennis – Ankle – Limited Participation

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Ankle – Limited Participation
OLB Haason Reddick – Shoulder – Limited Participation
T Tristan Wirfs – Knee – Limited Participation
QB Baker Mayfield – Foot/Toe – Full Participation

Jets Wednesday Injury Report

S Tony Adams – Hip – Did Not Participate
CB Michael Carter II – Shoulder – Did Not Participate
QB Justin Fields – Concussion – Did Not Participate
Edge Jermaine Johnson II – Ankle – Did Not Participate
RB Kene Nwangwu – Hamstring – Did Not Participate
WR Josh Reynolds – Hamstring – Did Not Participate
DL Jay Tufele – Illness – Did Not Participate
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball – Hamstring – Limited Participation
S Andre Cisco – Shoulder – Full Participation
CB Sauce Gardner – Groin – Full Participation
LB Kiko Mauigoa – Elbow – Full Participation