After speaking with media on Friday afternoon, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has ruled out three players for the Bucs home game against the Falcons.

Bucs TE Cam Brate – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, safety Logan Ryan and tight end Cam Brate will all not be available. Hicks has been out since Week 3 with a foot injury. Ryan just injured his foot early in last Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, and Brate was hurt in the same game as he made a catch and collided into wide receiver Chris Godwin.

Brate had initially complained of feeling discomfort in his shoulder, but then the symptoms starting coming at halftime and he did not return. He didn’t practice on Wednesday and then ran individually on a separate field on Thursday. Brate did warm up with his teammates for Friday’s practice, but was still ruled out.

Bowles did not indicate that Brate is feeling better from the hit that he took last week.

Which Bucs Are Coming In?

In replacement of those injured players, the defensive line will continue to have a committee with Vita Vea at nose tackle and a rotation of Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Will Gholston and Logan Hall with some playing time for Deadrin Senat as well.

Bucs S Keanu Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With Ryan, the Bucs have two options. They can implement Keanu Neal at strong safety next to Mike Edwards and keep Antoine Winfield Jr. at nickel corner, or the Bucs could move Winfield back to safety and put Sean Murphy-Bunting, who had an interception last week, in the slot.

With that said, SMB’s interception last week came at outside corner when he replaced an injured Carlton Davis III and has struggled previously in the slot.

It’ll be up to rookie tight ends Cade Otton and Ko Kieft to replace Brate. Otton made three catches for 29 yards with some extra snaps on offense. The Bucs will activate veteran Kyle Rudolph as well.

Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta on 1:00 PM on Sunday with first place in the NFC South on the line.