By admin 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into a challenging matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, missing at least three of their key starters. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed on Friday that defensive tackle and 2023 first-round pick Calijah Kancey, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and right tackle Luke Goedeke will not be available for the game. Additionally, reserve cornerback Josh Hayes is also ruled out, leaving the team thin in key defensive positions.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum, who suffered a concussion during last week’s season opener, remains questionable. Although he has been practicing all week, McCollum still needs to clear the league’s concussion protocol before being declared fit to play. Defensive end Logan Hall, who missed last week’s game due to a foot injury, is also listed as questionable. “Zyon has some tests to pass. We’ll see how Logan feels tomorrow,” Bowles explained. He added that McCollum has been working hard but emphasized the importance of passing the necessary tests, which he does not oversee.
The team is also facing uncertainty with starting nickelback Tykee Smith, who missed practice on both Thursday and Friday due to an illness. Bowles provided a brief update on Smith’s condition, stating, “He’s ill right now. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.” The Buccaneers are hoping for positive news before the game, but Smith’s status remains in doubt.
Kancey, who injured his left calf last Friday, joins Winfield and Goedeke on the sidelines. Winfield sprained his foot and ankle during last Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, while Goedeke sustained a concussion in the same game. Hayes, dealing with an ankle injury, is also out. The absence of these players has forced the team to shuffle their lineup, with Justin Skule stepping in for Goedeke at right tackle, and Christian Izien, who took over at outside cornerback in the second half last week, expected to start in Winfield’s place. Should Smith be unavailable, Bowles mentioned that Kaevon Merriweather could fill in at safety, while Tavierre Thomas might take over at nickelback.
Bowles acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic, saying, “Guys make this team for a reason. Everybody’s gonna go through their lumps at some point. Better now than midseason, give some young guys and give some other guys some experience that could help us later on, so we’re gonna go with what we got.” The Buccaneers will rely on their depth to make up for the missing starters, and Bowles has expressed confidence in their ability to execute.
If McCollum cannot clear concussion protocol, rookie Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, will likely get the starting nod. Funderburk was inactive last week but has been preparing for a bigger role. Additionally, the Buccaneers re-signed cornerback Keenan Isaac, who was recently with the Carolina Panthers after being cut by the Bucs following the preseason. Bowles expressed confidence in both Funderburk and Isaac, stating, “They know the system. They’ve been through all the training camp and everything. So I’m confident they’ll play the calls and do what they’re supposed to do.”
This injury-riddled Bucs team faces a tough challenge, especially considering the Lions beat them twice last year, including a 31-23 victory in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. Despite the setbacks, the Buccaneers will be hoping their replacements can step up and deliver in a critical early-season game.