Injuries have defined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season, and that's once again under the spotlight in Week 12. As the Bucs travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams in primetime, the defense will be down a number of key players against an offense that is flying high.
It's not hyperbolic to predict that Matthew Stafford might throw for a billion yards on Sunday night -- well, maybe a little hyperbolic, but the way it's not that far off from reality is the point. Stafford has been on a heater over the last few weeks and he gets a Tampa Bay defense that is both reeling and banged up.
The biggest loss for the Bucs is Jamel Dean, who will not suit up tonight. Benjamin Morrison, who Todd Bowles keeps infuriatingly rotating in for Dean, is also out which means an already thin secondary is going to be even flimsier against Stafford.
Haason Reddick is also out -- again -- as he continues to look like a massive free agent dud. What that means is Tampa Bay's pass rush, which is already suspect at best, is going to once again be shorthanded.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers inactives for Week 12 vs. Rams
Dean and Reddick are huge losses for the defense, but they aren't unexpected. Reddick hasn't played in weeks and Dean didn't practice so it's not like Bowles hasn't known this would happen.
The question is whether the defense will be able to scheme something up without key pieces, and if that will even matter. A major flaw for Tampa Bay this year has been a lack of consistency due to injuries and it could be that even the best effort simply isn't enough against a team as talented as the Rams.
Here's everyone who won't be suiting up this week for the Bucs:
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Bucky Irving | RB | Foot/Shoulder |
Jamel Dean | CB | Hip |
Haason Reddick | OLB | Ankle/Knee |
Ben Bredeson | OL | Hamstring |
Benjamin Morrison | CB | Hamstring |
Elijah Simmons | DL | Healthy Scratch |
One name not on the list is Chris Godwin. Tampa Bay will be getting him back for the first time since the win over Seattle back in October, which is when Godwin suffered a fibula injury that has kept him out.
Bucky Irving was trending toward playing but was ultimately ruled out on Friday. Despite some reporting drama about his off-field status, the Bucs are expecting to get Irving back next week against the Cardinals, which feels like a perfect get-right game for everyone.
Of course, this season has seen the Bucs unexpectedly subvert expectations, and beating the Rams while shorthanded would certainly fall into that category. It's easier said than done, but the return of Godwin and the overall talent the Bucs have makes it something that isn't totally impossible, even if it feels improbable.