Bucs vs. A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith Injury Update

SEPT 25 WHO'S WIDE? The Philadelphia Eagles have placed receiver Britain Covey on injured reserve, further thinning that position group as the prep to play Tampa Bay in NFL Sunday Week 4.

The Eagles are already dealing with problems here, featuring A.J. Brown, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, and DeVonta Smith, who sustained a concussion in that game.

The 2-1 Eagles could get some guys back, but for the moment, they only have Jahan Dotson left on their active roster at the position.

The Bucs are also 2-1 as they ready for Sunday's home game.

SEPT 23, DO IT YOURSELF Hey, if you want a job done right, do it yourself ... right?

The Atlanta Falcons didn't get a Sunday night win against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, as the Bucs' rivals lost a tight 22-17 in Week 3. But it was still a big evening at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the team inducted owner Arthur Blank into the Falcons Ring of Honor during halftime.

Which means Arthur Blank essentially voted himself in to his own team's "hall of fame.'' Cozy!

SEPT 22 BYE BRYCE? Are the Carolina Panthers already ready to give up on quarterback Bryce Young?

Young's presence is in doubt as he's been benched by Panthers head coach Dave Canales - the former Bucs coordinator - in favor of Andy Dalton. The move comes amid an 0-2 ... and Young, the former No. 1 overall pick out of Alabama, has been awful.

And so now come reports that the phone calls are rolling in.

"Several teams have expressed an interest in trading for quarterback Bryce Young, despite the fact coach Dave Canales said the Carolina Panthers do not intend to trade the former No. 1 overall pick, league sources told ESPN," Schefter wrote.

To us, that reads as CYA from the Panthers - and from ESPN. Consider what Schefter is reporting: That teams really want him ... but the Panthers do, too ... even though they don't.

As is often the case in Bristol, this seems like Sound and Fury stuff, as it is way too early to make definitive judgments on the next step in that unfortunate setup.

SEPT 17 UPSET Kirk Cousins beat the odds in more ways that one, leading his Falcons to a "Monday Night Football" upset win at Philadelphia. ... a 22-21 decision that allows Atlanta to stay within early NFC South range of the 2-0 Bucs and 2-0 Saints.

The Falcons were down six with 1:39 remaining when Cousins pushed them 70 yards and then eventually found wide receiver Drake London for a 7-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left.

Cousins is famous for losing on Mondays. But he moved to 4-10 on "MNF'' and now has won four of his past five MNF games.

This week the Falcons play on Sunday night against the undefeated Chiefs, while the Bucs play host to the 0-2 Broncos.

SEPT 16 STILL We are two weeks into the NFL season, and in the NFC South? The Saints are 2-0 after winning at the Dallas Cowboys. The Bucs are 2-0 win a win at Detroit . And the Panthers?

They're still the Panthers.

Carolina dropped to 0-2 on the season and now there are questions about whether they should bench former No. 1 overall quarterback Bryce Young. Questions ... but an answer.

“Bryce is our quarterback," said Dave Canales, the former Bucs coordinator now in charge in Carolina. "We're going to continue to shore and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme standpoint, all those things.''

Said Young: "This is obviously tough times, but it's a greater opportunity for us and our relationship and the entire team to grow.''

The Panthers are slated to take on the Raiders in Week 3.

SEPT 11 NO BUTS Washington Commanders first-year head coach Dan Quinn isn't taking a poke at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the Bucs' 37-20 blowout win at Raymond James Stadium.

But he is trying to rally his troops by insisting that to some degree, his Commanders shot themselves in the foot.

"We'll give Tampa the credit, but I think this team is going to improve significantly moving forward," Quinn said. "We're going to make sure we get the play style aligned exactly like we wanted."

We don't blame the coach for the approach. But the fact is, there was little Washington could do against Tampa Bay that would've changed much of the outcome in this throttling. The better team - by far - won.