Bucs HC Bowles Announces Starting LG, Rules Out Six vs. Ravens
The Bucs went an unconventional route in hopes of solving their left guard issues during Sunday’s 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Rookie left guard Luke Goedeke, who has started every game this season, began to rotate with the versatile Nick Leverett.
Leverett appeared to outplay the struggling first-year while he was in the game, but Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that if Goedeke was healthy enough to play, he would continue to rotate the two guards during Thursday night’s primetime matchup at home against the Ravens.
Only now, Goedeke has been ruled out for the game, Bowles said Wednesday.
Goedeke had his right foot in a boot after Sunday’s loss to Carolina and despite the team only having walk-throughs over the last couple of days because of the short week, he hasn’t been able to practice. So, with Goedeke unable to go on Thursday night, Leverett will get the start at left guard as the Bucs try to get back to .500 after two embarrassing losses on the road.
Bowles Rules Out Five More Bucs For Thursday Night
In addition to Goedeke being held out with his foot injury, Bowles announced that five more players have also been ruled out for Thursday’s game against Baltimore.
Cameron Brate (neck), Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad), Russell Gage (hamstring), Carlton Davis III (hip) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) will be missing from the Bucs’ lineup. Bowles mentioned that they’re doubtful that Akiem Hicks (foot) will play, but they’re playing it by ear. Julio Jones (knee) will be a game-time decision, the head coach said.
The biggest of those absences are obviously Davis and Winfield, two key members of Tampa Bay’s secondary. Murphy-Bunting, a key depth player behind Davis, also being out creates a gap. That means the Bucs are down to their No. 4 corner to pair with No. 2 guy Jamel Dean. During Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, rookie Zyon McCollum played every defensive snap and certainly had his struggles. He’s likely to see plenty of action again against the Ravens.
With Winfield out and Logan Ryan on injured reserve, the Bucs are thin at safety, too. Mike Edwards and Keanu Neal are the only experienced safeties the team has available, while Dee Delaney saw time at the position two weeks ago against Pittsburgh. Undrafted rookie Nolan Turner will also presumably be active for the game.
Gage is also a big loss, and he becomes an even bigger loss if Jones is unable to suit up and play yet again. That would leave the receiving corps down to Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden and potentially a practice squad call-up to play behind the headlining duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Tampa Bay is in a tough spot heading into Thursday night and faces what feels like a must-win game. If the Bucs are going to get back on track with a win, they’ll have to overcome their stacked injury report.
