The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ showdown with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 will make or break the season, and the Bucs need all hands on deck to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Fortunately, the Buccaneers received some encouraging news on the injury front just in time for the pivotal matchup. Several key players are trending toward a return, giving Tampa Bay a chance to take the field with its healthiest roster in weeks.
Buccaneers get encouraging injury news at the perfect time ahead of Falcons showdown
The Buccaneers released their injury report after practice on Thursday, and several designations stood out.
Antoine Winfield Jr. was a full participant after missing the last three games with a fractured rib, and the star safety is gearing up for a return. Heading into a matchup against a stacked Falcons offense featuring Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, the importance of Winfield's return can't be overstated.
Emeka Egbuka, who missed last week due to a concussion and foot injury, was a limited participant and has a chance to play against the Falcons.
Josiah Trotter, who missed practice earlier in the week due to an illness, returned as a full particplant on Thursday.
Kenny Gainwell, coming off his best game as a Buccaneer with 88 rushing yards, returned to practice after missing Wednesday with a hip injury. Tampa Bay is getting healthy at the perfect time.
Luke Goedeke could be Buccaneers' only key absence in Week 8
The only three players who didn’t practice were Luke Goedeke, Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin Jr.
But Irving and Godwin were each given rest days, so Goedeke is the only player truly out with an injury as things currently stand.
While being without their premier starting right tackle is far from ideal, the Bucs’ offense operated just fine with Benjamin Chukwuma as the starting right tackle last week. In fact, it was their best performance of the year, allowing zero sacks and rushing for 258 total yards.
Todd Bowles went on the record saying that Chukwuma has a “huge future” as an NFL starter, so the coaching staff has the utmost confidence in him as the next-man up.
All in all, it’s hard not to be encouraged with Winfield making his return and Egbuka having a chance to do the same. Both teams will be overwhelmingly healthy entering Week 8, so there are no excuses.
It’ll come down to who executes better and the Buccaneers have a golden opportunity to make a statement in a game that could have massive implications for the NFC South race.
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