The Bucs have a momentum after a two game winning streak and have a good chance of making it three straight facing a two-win Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. If they’re gong to keep the victories coming in, they’ll have to do it without several players on defense in Week 14.

Following practice on Friday, head coach Todd Bowles said that inside linebacker K.J. Britt (ankle), safety Mike Edwards (hamstring), corner Troy Hill (foot/knee), and outside linebacker Markees Watts (knee) are all out for the game. Watts is still technically on injured reserve with the 21-day practice window for him, but already ruling him out means that they won’t upgrade him yet for this game.

How Will The Bucs Construct Their Defense?

It’s a good sign that rookie safety Tykee Smith and outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka were able to practice this week. Right as Tampa Bay thought they reconfigured their secondary in recent weeks with the signings of Edwards and Hill, it’s back to square one.

Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Edwards has been with the Bucs for only two games before getting injured. Hill has been on the practice squad since late October and was signed to the 53-man roster in the middle of November. The Bucs are set at corner with Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean with Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk able to back up. What Tampa Bay will do at safety in another issue.

With Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve, Edwards came in to play safety next Antoine Winfield Jr. while Christian Izien was in the slot. The Bucs also signed Kaevon Merriweather this week, so without Edwards out they can choose to put Izien back at safety and keep Smith in the slot or keep Izien at nickel and move Smith to his more natural position at safety, although Smith has been playing in the slot all season. The Bucs may choose as well to put Merriweather at safety and keep Smith in his regular spot.

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: USA Today

“We’re going to work him out before the game and see where he’s at as far as what he knows gameplan-wise and we’ll go from there,” Bowles said of Smith. “They’ve got packages for both, so depending on how they start the game is how we’ll start the game, but all of them will play.”

Tampa Bay will likely go with J.J. Russell at inside linebacker with Britt out. He came in for him last game and Bowles doesn’t seem ready to put in Vi Jones just yet. It’ll also be interesting to see how the snaps at outside linebacker are formed. Yaya Diaby played almost the entire game last week while Anthony Nelson played much more than usual with Tryon-Shoyinka out. The Bucs barely used Chris Braswell and Jose Ramirez.

Since Nelson made the big play, does he keep a starting role? We’ll see if there’s any new wrinkles for the Bucs coming up this weekend. A win on Sunday might catapult Tampa Bay to first place in the NFC South standings.