The Bucs have three major injury concerns on defense with cornerbacks Jamel Dean (ankle) and Carlton Davis (hip) along with inside linebacker Lavonte David (groin). As we get closer to the week, we’ve at least found out the significance of one of their injuries.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bucs seemed to have been lucky when it comes to Dean. He reports that the severity of Dean’s injury will be week-to-week but it won’t be long term from Tampa Bay’s corner.
The #Bucs appear to have dodged a bullet with CB Jamel Dean. Sources say the ankle injury he suffered against the #49ers has him week-to-week, and while he might miss time, it's not considered to be a long injury. Based on what it looked liked initially, this is good news.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 22, 2023
Dean had two separately plays where he injured his ankle and foot in Week 11’s game against the 49ers. The last one kept him out of the rest of the contest when he mistimed a jump on a deep ball to Brandon Aiyuk, causing a 76-yard touchdown catch and run. San Francicso had a three-play, 98-yard drive on that score.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today
The health at corner has been an issue for the Bucs all season. Dean has missed one game already while Davis has missed three. Each player left Sunday’s game early. Luckily, second-year corner Zyon McCollum has played well in replacement of the corners at separate times. Tampa Bay was even more depleted last game, so rookie defensive back Josh Hayes played as well.
Bucs Wednesday Practice Update
The Bucs essentially had a walkthrough practice indoors on a rainy Wednesday. All of the players just wore t-shirts with no helmet and pads on. David, Davis and even safety Ryan Neal were seen at practice, but Dean was nowhere to be found.
It was a walkthrough indoors for the #Bucs as they just wore t-shirts.
We saw ILB Lavonte David, CB Carlton Davis, S Ryan Neal and LT Tristan Wirfs.
No sign of CB Jamel Dean.
Neal still has a wrap on his hand.
Since players weren’t in pads, tough to say who participated. pic.twitter.com/698oryyyg8
— Matt Matera (@matty4_matera) November 22, 2023
Because it was a walkthrough, it made it difficult to assert who was legitimately available and who was not for the day. The Bucs have two more practice to determine who can play in the next game.