Buccaneers Can’t Afford Any Setbacks

As the Buccaneers get through the bye week, they are not in a position where they can afford any kind of setbacks with their injured players.

The bye week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came at a perfect time given the state of the team and its injury problems. With that being considered, the Bucs have to see their key players return for practice next week when they begin to prepare for their trip to San Francisco to face the 49ers.

Seeing the returns of key players like Robert Ayers, Doug Martin, Gerald McCoy, and Luke Stocker will give both sides of the ball a major boost, not only in production, but in leadership. The run game – with the exception of a stellar game by Jacquizz Rodgers Monday night – has been putrid at best. The pass rush has been virtually nonexistent except during the first half of the Broncos game. The return of these four men improve both of those problems.

Gerald McCoy, like him or not, is a leader on this football team. No, he may not be the kind of leader that many want. He isn’t loud, he isn’t flashy, he isn’t boisterous.

More from Bucs News

• Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
• Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
• Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
• The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
• Todd Bowles admits he only looks at three things on Bucs schedule

However, there is no denying the defensive line plays better when he’s out there and when he speaks, players listen. The loud, flashy, boisterous leader comes in the form of Robert Ayers, who has no problem calling guys out, getting angry, and letting loose to fire up his teammates. That, above the talent and production he provides, may be what the Buccaneers have missed most during his absence.

This is the time when these players need to be taking the final steps towards getting themselves back in football condition and preparing to set foot back on the playing field. Most Buccaneers fans would have been elated if they looked at the pre-bye schedule and were guaranteed the Bucs came out of it 2-3. Now, they have to continue to build and get healthy to put themselves in a position to compete down the stretch.

Next: The Buccaneers OLine Stepped Up In A Big Way

This division is far from out of reach and the health of this team is vital if they are going to make any noise at all. It’s not over for these Buccaneers, no matter how bleak things looked early on.