Thursday’s injury report for Bucs vs. Falcons in Week 8 had a new addition to it. Tampa Bay’s defensive line finally was able to get healthy in the previous weeks with Calijah Kancey returning two weeks ago and Earnest Brown IV coming back for Monday night.

But as we’ve seen for them this season, as one player becomes available, another somehow ends up going down. Defensive tackle Greg Gaines was put on the injury report with a calf injury was listed as a limited participant.

Gaines has carved out a nice role playing about 35% of the defensive snaps in the last three games. He was a big help early in with Kancey out and Vita Vea missing the second half of Week 2 where he ended up playing 78% of the snaps. Gaines had a walking boot on in the locker room, but based on his limited participation, that boot might be precautionary.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

Status Of Bucs RB Bucky Irving In Question 

As if Tampa Bay wasn’t going through enough injuries on the offensive side, that might have suffered another. For the second day in a row, rookie running back Bucky Irving did not participate because of a toe injury. Irving played through the Monday night game against the Ravens and may have hurt his toe when he scored a touchdown later on in the game. Playing on a short week doesn’t help.

The Bucs were hoping to rely on a three-headed monster in the backfield with Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. It might just be a two-headed attack with White and Tucker depending on if Irving can end up going by the end of the week. The bounces aren’t going Tampa Bay’s way at the moment.

Here’s the Thursday injury report for the Bucs and Falcons:

Bucs Thursday Injury Report

• TE Payne Durham — calf — limited participation
• WR Mike Evans — hamstring — did not participate
• NT Greg Gaines – calf – limited participation 
• DL Will Gholston — knee — limited participation
• RB Bucky Irving — toe — did not participate 
• WR Rakim Jarrett — knee — full participation
• S Tykee Smith — concussion — did not participate
• 

  Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Bucs NCB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Falcons Injury Report

• LB Troy Anderson — knee — limited participation
• G Matthew Bergeron — neck — limited participation 
• CB Antonio Hamilton Sr. — back — limited participation
• LB Nate Landman — shoulder — limited participation
• G Ryan Neuzil — knee — limited participation
• RB Bijan Robinson – rest – limited participation
• FS Justin Simmons — hamstring — limited participation