There is no secondary in the league as banged up as the Bucs. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is on injured reserve and Jamel Dean missed Week 4 with a knee concern. Then, cornerback Carlton Davis and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. left Sunday’ night’s tilt versus the Patriots with injuries.

Head coach Bruce Arians was vague when asked for an update on the severity of Davis’ injury after Wednesday’s practice.

“It’s a quad injury, pulled muscle,” Arians said.

When pushed for a potential timetable of recovery for Davis and Murphy-Bunting, Arians added, “I don’t see either one of them coming back anytime soon.”

The injuries are starting to pile up for the Bucs, to the point where they started Richard Sherman off just three days of practice. Relying on practice squad promotions and street free agents, this starting Bucs secondary looks much different than it did when the team took the field in Week 1. Arians also gave an update on the status of Winfield Jr. and Dean on Bucs Total Access on Tuesday.

“Getting Jordan [Whitehead] back, he’s just knocking the rust off, but he’s going to be the healthiest starter we’ve got out there,” Arians said. “Mike Edwards has played a bunch. He’ll be the other safety if Antoine [Winfield Jr] can’t get out of the protocol. We’ll just see at corner. Hopefully Jamel Dean is back. I mean basically we’ll have five new guys back there.”

Winfield Jr is currently in the league’s concussion protocol, and there has been no real update on the severity of Davis’ injury. About 15 minutes before Arians’ Wednesday presser, Davis tweeted out the following:

This would seem to indicate that Davis will return during the 2021 season. But it is unknown how long that could take.

Dean practiced all last week for the team, but was ruled out on Friday. If the third-year corner is healthy for Week 5 against the Dolphins, Dean will start at right cornerback and Sherman at left. Ross Cockrell will man the slot, with Pierre Desir and Dee Delaney waiting in the wings. Veteran safety Andrew Adams will serve as the No. 3 safety against the Dolphins.