The Bucs took the practice field on Wednesday without several key defensive backs, which concerning. Both starting cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean did not practice on Wednesday, in addition to reserve cornerback Josh Hayes, who is one of the team’s top special teamers and a starting gunner.

Dean left in the first quarter of the Bucs’ 39-37 loss at Houston on Sunday after suffering a concussion. He’s currently in the concussion protocol along with Hayes, who also suffered a concussion on Sunday.

When asked if there is a chance that Dean returns to action on Sunday against Tennessee, Bowles said: “I’ll feel better once I see him on Friday, if he’s progressed any. He hasn’t put a helmet on, so he’s in [concussion] protocol right now. Again, I’m not smart enough to know if he can recover from that or he can’t, so we’ll see where he’s at.”

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Dean was replaced by Zyon McCollum on Sunday and would start in Dean’s place if he can’t go versus the Titans. McCollum, like Dean and Davis, also played poorly in Houston.

Davis, who surrendered three touchdowns, including the game-winner for the Texans on Sunday at Houston, has been bothered by a toe injury he suffered in a Week 1 win at Minnesota. That injury caused him to miss the Chicago and Philadelphia games in Weeks 2 and 3 earlier in the season.

With Dee Delaney being pressed into duty at strong safety for the struggling Ryan Neal, the Bucs are thin at cornerback right now with injuries to Davis, Dean and Hayes, who has yet to play any snaps on defense. If Dean and Davis can’t play, Delaney would likely start at cornerback opposite McCollum and the Bucs would be forced to play Neal, who has struggled mightily in coverage, the whole game at strong safety.

Other Bucs On Injury Report

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo by: USA Today

Several other Bucs players were on Wednesday’s injury report. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Logan Hall were both limited in practice with groin injuries. Hall missed Sunday’s game with his groin injury, which occurred in Buffalo during warmups.

Hall played sparingly against the Bills as a result before sitting out the Texans game. Vea missed the Bills game due to a groin injury, but returned to action against the Texans.

Left guard Matt Feiler was limited with a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two games, right tackle Luke Goedeke was limited with a foot injury and wide receiver Trey Palmer was limited with a neck injury.

Wide receiver Deven Thompkins missed practice due to a personal reason.