TAMPA, Fla. — The injury-besieged Bucs secondary is getting some reinforcements this weekend, though a key cog of the unit remains sidelined.
Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr., in concussion protocol since a hard collision during a second-half tackle at Carolina, will miss his second straight game when the Bucs (3-5) host the Rams (3-5) on Sunday, coach Todd Bowles confirmed. Also out are tight end Cameron Brate (neck), left guard Luke Goedeke (foot) and receiver Russell Gage (hamstring).
On the positive side, previously injured cornerbacks Carlton Davis (hip) and Sean Murphy-Bunting are officially listed as questionable but still expected back after missing the last two and three games, respectively. So is defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, who was signed in the offseason to replace fellow veteran Ndamukong Suh but has remained out since sustaining a plantar fascia tear in Week Two at New Orleans.
“(Hicks’ return) puts everybody back in their roles and they can get the amount of time and play how they’re used to playing,” Bowles said. “And it helps us up front because it gives us a dimension we haven’t had over there.”
Winfield was seen doing light running and agility work during the practice window open to reporters Thursday and Friday, leaving open the slim chance he could play against the Rams. His absence again leaves the back end of the Bucs secondary short-handed, considering safety/corner hybrid Logan Hall (foot) remains on injured reserve.
Keanu Neal and Mike Edwards both played all 76 defensive snaps in last week’s 27-22 loss to the Ravens.
“It was good to see (Winfield) out here running around,” Bowles said. “He’s going through the process right now, but he’s trending in the right way.”
Ryan Jensen a Salute to Service nominee again
For the fourth year in a row, Bucs center Ryan Jensen has been nominated by his team for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award.
The award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staffers and alumni who “demonstrate commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities.” Finalists are expected to be announced in January, and the winner will be named during “NFL Honors,” the prime-time awards special airing the week of Super Bowl 57.
One of only two NFL players to be nominated four consecutive years, Jensen has donated nearly $100,000 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation for “Jensen’s GI’s,” which provides game-day experiences for military families.
He also worked with Southeastern Guide Dogs to provide a $75,000 donation to sponsor three service dogs that provide companionship and daily assistance for military service members recovering from injury. Additionally, he visits local veteran’s-assistance hospitals and hosts Zoom calls to support active-duty military families.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be nominated for this award once again,” Jensen, grandson of a U.S. Army veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, said in a statement released by the team.
“I have such great respect and admiration for all of our brave service members and all of the branches of our military. We’re afforded the liberties we have because of the courageous members of our armed forces, and I’m incredibly grateful to be able to receive this recognition on behalf of them.”
