The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-2 in the NFL’s NFC South Division. The Bucs are tied with the Atlanta Falcons after last week’s 36-30 overtime loss. The Buccaneers have been dealing with injuries since before the season started during training camp. Some Bucs players have played a few games and are either out or questionable for this week’s away game against the New Orleans Saints. The team will have a defensive player make his season debut. Will this help the Bucs’ defense?
Most of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players’ injuries were on the defensive side of the ball, mainly the defensive line and the secondary. The Bucs, ranked 30th in defense, have gotten ten sacks in the past two games after only two in the first three games of the season, even with players jumping in and out with injuries. The Buccaneers are ranked 16th in total allowed yards in rushing at 599. They will face a rushing offense that is ranked 7th in the league, led by their running back Alvin Kamara, ranked 6th in the league in rushing.
Calijah Kancey
Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s star defensive lineman will finally make his season debut after being sidelined with an injury since training camp. Calijah Kancey was drafted in 2023 in the first round with the Bucs first pick. Kancey had a decent season last year with 26 tackles, 19 being solo, and four sacks. The team’s defensive lineman has been out with a calf injury he suffered during practice during training camp. Kancey missed all the Buccaneers preseason games and has not even suited up for any of the five games already played.
According to the team’s website, head coach Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers had this to say about Kancey:
“Kancey was full [participation in practice], so he’ll play.”
The defensive coaching staff has been waiting for Kancey’s return. Before the start of the season, they were expecting Yaya Diaby and Calijah Kancey to have a good season on the front line of the defense. Buccaneers backs Greg Gaines, Anthony Nelson, and C.J. Brewer have been getting extra snaps in Kancey’s absence.
Luke Goedeke
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will also have another player returning to the team this week against the Saints. Bucs offensive lineman Luke Goedeke will be playing this week after being out on concussion protocol for the past couple of weeks. The offensive lineman suffered the concussion in week 1 against the Washington Commanders and has been out ever since. Goedeke, in his third season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was drafted by them in the second round in 2022.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need Goedeke present, with rookie center Graham Barton out this week with a hamstring injury. According to Scott Smith, head coach Todd Bowles had this to say in the same update about the return of the lineman:
“He had a good week of practice. Barring any setbacks he should be scheduled to play. He looks good. Obviously you can’t tell until the game because you only can do so much in practice. But he looks fresh, he looks healthy, so he’s ready to go.”
The Bucs’ offense is ranked 19th in the league. The Bucs hired offensive coordinator Liam Coen to improve the team’s run game. So far, the Bucs are ranked 19th and 16th in passing. Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White is suffering a foot injury, the Bucs are going to wait til game day to make a decision on his participation against the Sants. Bucs do have rookie Bucky Irving who has been have a good season this year as backup.
Final Thought
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walk into the Super Dome against a New Orleans Saints team without their star quarterback, Derek Carr. The Buccaneers will have to deal with a very productive running back, Alvin Kamara, and a 23rd-ranked defense. Baker Mayfield, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has concerns going into this game because the Saints D likes to clog the middle of the field and have good coverage linebackers. Can the Buccaneers get an away win against the Saints to make them a step closer to the goal of their fourth straight divisional title?
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