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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions from the @PewterReport Twitter account this week in the Bucs Mailbag. Submit your question to the Bucs Mailbag each week via Twitter using the hashtag #PRMailbag.  Here are the Bucs questions we chose to answer for this week’s edition.

QUESTION: Calijah Kancey missed some of the offseason with an injury that wasn’t really disclosed. Now it appears to have the same injury as last year from non-contact. How concerning is this, and could this be a IR stint? Also when did Antoine Winfield Jr. get injured? The defense is decimated.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANSWER: I think this is concerning. It is the same calf that he injured last year, and muscle tears like that never fully heal to the point of brand new. There is always some scar tissue in there. I tore my hamstring years ago while running and it took me a few months to recover from it. It’s never been the same since. Now I’m certainly not 23 like defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is, nor am I a professional athlete with a team of professional trainers at my disposal.

But my point is that Kancey may have to do some extra stretching or extra hydration since this has become a recurring injury to prevent it from flaring up again. He’ll need to spend some extra time doing some extra things to keep that particular muscle loose. Kancey can’t just pretend that it’s fixed and won’t flare up again because a calf strain actually means a torn calf muscle. I think he’s learning that lesson now, unfortunately.

I don’t think this is something that will negatively impact Kancey’s career moving forward. But this certainly isn’t helping the Bucs as they prepare for a revenge game against the Lions in Detroit. The team will see how he feels during the week to determine if his status is day-to-day or week-to-week. He missed time in training camp due to a slight knee injury – not a calf injury, by the way.

As for Antoine Winfield Jr., the All-Pro safety hurt his foot and ankle very late in the 37-20 win over the Commanders. His status for Sunday’s game in Detroit is unknown right now. Christian Izien would start at free safety next to Jordan Whitehead if Winfield can’t go. The Bucs are thin at cornerback, but loaded at safety with Tavierre Thomas and Kaevon Merriweather as reseves and Rashad Wisdom and Marcus Banks on the practice squad.

QUESTION: Is Patrick Peterson a logical choice as an outside option for CB depth? It seems like no-brainer given what’s available right now and his familiarity with Todd Bowles’ defense.

Bucs CB Keenan Isaac – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANSWER: No. Patrick Peterson is 34 years old and he’s clearly lost a step. While he does have familiarity with Todd Bowles’ system from their time together in Arizona, I’m told he won’t be signed as the Bucs look for reinforcements.

If the team does a sign a cornerback this week – and that’s likely given the season-ending injury to Bryce Hall – they will want a younger player and will favor talent and athleticism over experience. Todd Bowles is not afraid to play young players, and despite missing the 2024 preseason with a foot injury, undrafted free agent Tyrek Funderburk is on deck to play this week after being inactive on Sunday.

But with Jamel Dean and Funderburk being the only healthy cornerbacks right now with Zyon McCollum (concussion) and Josh Hayes (ankle) leaving Sunday’s win over the Commanders injured, Tampa Bay might have to sign two cornerbacks this week depending on how they progress. The Bucs currently don’t have any cornerbacks on their practice squad.

The team waived Keenan Isaac, who was claimed by Carolina, in addition to Andrew Hayes and Chris McDonald Jr. Isaac was waived by Carolina on Saturday, so he could be in play to return. Any of the three could be in consideration because they know the defensive scheme – if the coaches and personnel department think either has enough talent. Tampa Bay is going for the right fit – not necessarily a big name.

Keep in mind that when the Bucs were decimated with injuries at cornerback in 2021 the team signed Richard Sherman and Pierre Desir. Sherman, a future Hall of Famer, was older and quickly got injured. While Desir, who was not a household name, proved to be the better addition and finished his short Bucs stint with a pair of interceptions. Desir is no longer an option as he’s now 34 and has been out of the league the last three years.

In other words, I don’t see the Bucs necessarily going with guys like Xavien Howard, J.C. Jackson or Eli Apple just because they are more familiar names. We’ll see what happens. Tampa Bay could bring in some cornerbacks to work out on Tuesday and sign the best one – or two.

QUESTION: Since he practiced against Mike Evans for so long, do you think Carlton Davis III will follow Evans next week?

Ex-Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ANSWER: I’m not sure how Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn runs his defense and what his philosophy is with playing a match concept where he matches personnel. Todd Bowles doesn’t really do that. Carlton Davis III was almost always lined up at left cornerback with Jamel Dean at right cornerback. Now it’s Zyon McCollum playing left cornerback in place of Davis.

Bowles has deployed Davis in a few instances, matching CDIII with Tyreek Hill in the 27-24 loss to the Chiefs in the 2020 regular season – and without great results – and also against Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase in 2022. I know that Davis has the size and physicality to match up with either Mike Evans, Chris Godwin or Jalen McMillan, I just don’t know how Glenn deploys his cornerbacks.

With Godwin playing mostly in the slot in Liam Coen’s offense, Davis will likely be matched up on the outside against Evans or the flanker tandem of McMillan or Trey Palmer on Sunday. It should be noted that Davis dropped an interception in the Lions’ season opener last night and also got banged up. Shocker, I know.

QUESTION: What things do the Bucs need to clean up in preparing to face Detroit?

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

ANSWER: Well, aside from getting healthier on defense, there are a few areas that could use some improvement for sure. The interior offensive line needs to continue to gel and improve. Center Graham Barton did a credible job in his first NFL start and I thought he played well given the task of making his debut against the likes of Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Cody Mauch needs to continue to work on the down-in, down-out consistency, too.

The pass protection was pretty good for the most part. Baker Mayfield was only sacked once and had to scramble just a few times. But the run game still needs some work. The run blocking got better as Sunday’s game went on, and Washington deserves some credit for disrupting some runs with backfield penetration. Rachaad White could also use a little more urgency when he runs the ball. Otherwise Bucky Irving will be eating into his carries.

Tampa Bay’s pass rush was disjointed at times, and for good reason. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby missed the entire preseason and most of training camp with a high ankle sprain. While he had a good game overall, his rushes weren’t always in sync with his teammates and it showed. Not having Calijah Kancey in there also hurt the Bucs’ pass rush, as Greg Gaines is more of a run stuffer.

The other thing Todd Bowles wants to see is some takeaways. It’s kind of crazy that the Bucs had such a lopsided, 37-20 win over the Commanders and didn’t record a single takeaway on defense. That, and maybe better punting from Jake Camarda. He only had one on Sunday, but it traveled just 38 yards. Not sure why he’s not getting the distance he got last year on his punts.

QUESTION: Do you think Dave Canales is regretting taking that coaching gig at Carolina?

Panthers head coach Dave Canales – Photo by: USA Today

ANSWER: No, not at all. There are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs and when you’re offered one, you better take it because it might not come around again. I can’t fault Dave Canales for taking the Panthers head coaching gig, even though it may not be ideal because it’s a huge rebuild. He’s gone from making hundreds of thousands of dollars to making millions of dollars and it’s set up his family for retirement down the road.

I think Canales is in over his head as a head coach and a play-caller. He was learning on the job last year as a play-caller with a very talented Bucs team. Now he’s on a Panthers team that is very bad and has a fraction of the talent that the Bucs possess with only one season of play-calling experience to serve him.

And I just don’t think much of Bryce Young. He could be a bust. He certainly doesn’t look special. Jameis Winston showed more promise as a rookie than Young did last year, so that’s not going to help Canales in the long run.

Look no further than former Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who turned down the Jaguars head coaching job after the 2021 season because he wanted his own general manager in Jacksonville. Leftwich was foolish for trying to make such a power play. The Jaguars ultimately kept G.M. Trent Baalke, rescinded the offer, and went with Doug Pederson, who is a much better head coach and offensive mind. Leftwich was fired after being exposed as a bad play-caller following the 2022 season when the Bucs’ scoring plummeted to 18 points per game. Now Leftwich can’t get hired in either the NFL or college ranks.