Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report: Key Absences Ahead of San Francisco Showdown

Despite being three-point home favorites, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into their Sunday matchup against the San Francisco 49ers shorthanded, with several key contributors sidelined by injury. The Bucs’ receiving corps will be without both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula), creating a significant void for the offense and putting the pressure on depth receivers to step up. Running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and Josh Williams (concussion) are also ruled out, further hampering Tampa Bay’s arsenal of playmakers.

The defensive side of the ball isn’t spared either. Starting cornerbacks Zyon McCollum (thumb) and Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) were both absent from practice all week and won’t suit up on Sunday, potentially exposing the secondary to a dynamic San Francisco passing attack. Safety Christian Izien (quad) is listed as questionable, though he progressed to full participation by Friday. The linebacking corps will see Lavonte David (knee) play through limited practices, while corner Jamel Dean (hip) and tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) both finished the week with full participation.

On injured reserve, the Bucs are also missing key depth across several positions, including safety JJ Roberts, wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and offensive tackle Luke Goedeke, adding to the long list of unavailable players.

With just 40% of the betting consensus backing Tampa Bay to cover, the public seems to lean towards the 49ers taking advantage of the Bucs’ depleted lineup. Still, as home favorites, the Buccaneers have a chance to rally behind their remaining stars and deliver a statement win, though overcoming these injuries will require a true team effort.