Each week following every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer look at the snap count distribution for Tampa Bay on offense and defense. We’ll assess what we can learn from who played the most and least in the game.

Let’s get a closer look at the Bucs players who received the highest and lowest number of snaps in their brutal, 41-31 loss to the Ravens on Monday Night Football in which injuries to star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin may impact the rest of their season.

Bucs Offense 

This was the first opportunity to see the newly vaunted “three-headed monster” for the Bucs with Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker with White’s return the lineup. They all certainly had their impact on the game as Tampa Bay rushed for 125 yards against Baltimore with 92 coming from the three backs. White was also second on the team in receiving with 71 yards on six catches, scoring twice.

The amount of snaps were dispersed in a fairly even way. White led the backs at 48% of the snaps, but Irving and Tucker weren’t far behind at 35% and 20%, respectively. White had 10 rushing attempts compared to five each for Irving and Tucker. While White led with 40 rushing yards, Tucker had the best yards-per-attempt average with 5.8, and Irving had the best yards per catch with 18. All three backs played their part well and it’s a great sign moving forward considering they’ll need all three with the injuries at wide receiver.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

It was a devastating night for the Bucs’ wide receiver room that goes beyond just this game. Mike Evans exited in the second after aggravating his hamstring injury that had him writhing in pain after an incomplete pass. Evans was able to walk off on his own power but it looked bad.

To make matters worse was Chris Godwin was tackled with under a minute left and the Bucs down 10 points, suffering a gruesome ankle injury. Early reports indicate Godwin dislocated his ankle. He was put in an air cast and had to be carted off the field. He’s likely out for the year.

Since it happened so late in the game, Godwin’s snap percentages stayed the same at 85%. Evans was only available for 28% due to his hamstring injury. Initially when Evans and Godwin were available, it was Jalen McMillan who was the third wide receiver lining up with them, but after Evans went out it was Trey Palmer that played the most. Palmer ended up at 72% with McMillan at 60%. Sterling Shepard played at 45% despite being the most productive out of those three in the previous weeks.

With backup tight end Payne Durham out, rookie Devin Culp made his NFL debut. He didn’t play much, just getting in for one snap, as did backup tackle Justin Skule coming in as an extra blocker. Cade Otton played his typical amount at 98% of the snaps, and led the Bucs with eight catches for 100 yards while taking some tough hits throughout it.

Bucs Defense

Rookie corner Tyrek Funderburk was thrown right into it playing 100% of the snaps in his first career start. He joined Zyon McCollum, K.J. Britt, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. as other players that went the whole way. Funderburk made five tackles in the game.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: USA Today

Typically close to 100% is Jordan Whitehead, but he only ended up playing 75% which came as a surprise. That was the second lowest total for him on the season besides the Week 5 game at Atlanta where he played 69%, but he exited that game early with an injury. In this game, he played the whole time. Tykee Smith’s numbers were down as well because he left the game with a concussion. He ended up playing 24% and backup nickel Christian Izien played 17%.

Another surprise in the game was that outside linebacker Yaya Diaby did not lead the Bucs’ outside linebackers in snaps. that actually went to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at 66% with Diaby coming in second at 59%. Anthony Nelson played almost the same amount as Diaby with 61%, but there was a big jump after that for Christian Braswell, who came in for 36% of the snaps.

Diaby had fives tackles and a sack. JTS recorded four tackles and two tackles for loss. Nelson had two tackles and there was one made by Braswell.

Calijah Kancey was a workhorse for the Bucs at defensive tackle playing in 73% of the snaps. That was seventh-most by anyone on the defense and without question the most by a defensive tackle. Vea Vea’s 64% were similar to his usual amount, and Earnest Brown got a good chunk of snaps at 27%, which was slightly less than Greg Gaines (34%) but slightly more than Will Gholston (19%). Brown has found his way in the Bucs’ defensive line rotation moving ahead.