The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just an hour away from kickoff against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football, and final injury reports were just released.
The Buccaneers got some good news on their end, as Emeka Egbuka is set to return after missing the last two games due to injury. The only starter ruled out for Tampa Bay is outside linebacker Yaya Diaby.
The Bears, on the other hand, won’t be entering the matchup quite as healthy as the Buccaneers. Chicago will be without several key players, which could give Tampa Bay a much-needed boost as they look to pull off an upset in primetime.
Bears will be without Malik Muhammad and Kyle Monangai against Buccaneers for Sunday Night Football
Bears cornerback Malik Muhammad and running back Kyle Monangaiwere questionable throughout the week, and there was hope they’d be able to return in Week 9.
Inactives for #TBvsCHI: pic.twitter.com/ZZcsCU6ueT
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 8, 2026
Instead, both will be sidelined due to injury, and it’s a significant blow for Chicago.
Malik Muhammad has been the Bears’ best cornerback this year, and without him, they’ll be forced to start a struggling Tyrique Stevenson at outside cornerback.
Ahead of the matchup, I spoke to Anthony Miller, who covers the Bears for Bear Goggles On, and he’s extremely concerned about being without Muhammad.
“Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson have been awful all season, with each guy allowing a passer rating over 120… the Bears’ only good cornerback, rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad, missed the Seahawks game with a toe injury and is questionable against Tampa Bay as well. If Muhammad can’t play, I would suggest the Buccaneers not focus as much on the run and instead attack this Bears secondary deep with downfield passes," Miller told me.
On top of the secondary being a liability, Monangai’s absence really hurts the run game, even though he’s not the No. 1 back.
Before Monangai’s injury, the Bears averaged 196.3 rushing yards per game. Since Monangai has been out, the Bears are only averaging 105.3 yards per game.
That’s a massive decline in rushing production, and Tampa Bay boasts the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense, allowing only 80 yards per game.
There’s no doubt that the Buccaneers are the healthier team entering this matchup, and the Bears will really miss Monangai and Muhammad.
With an upset win over the Bears on Sunday night, Tampa Bay will take sole control of the NFC South, and in the process, prove they can compete with the NFL’s best. The Buccaneers enter the game as heavy underdogs, but just got a boost in the injury department, and they can’t squander that sudden advantage.
Add us as a preferred source on Google