After a hard-fought regular season, the Bucs are back in the NFL Playoffs, representing the NFC South for the fourth consecutive season. 

Coincidentally, Tampa begins its quest for the organization’s third Super Bowl by hosting the Washington Commanders, the team it defeated in Week 1 of the NFL regular season.

Despite the Bucs’ previous 37-20 victory over Washington, injuries and trades have significantly altered each team’s rosters, so the matchup we see this Sunday night could look much different.

Antoine Winfield Jr. Returning?

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

The biggest difference between the Bucs in this game compared to Week 1 will be the absence of All-Pro wide receiver Chris Godwin. Luckily, though, this game could feature the return of All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Tampa’s superstar safety entered this season coming off of his best year as a pro. Unfortunately, 2024 limited him to the fewest games of his career (9) as injuries have repeatedly kept him off the field. 

Today, Winfield Jr. was a full participant in practice, which is a promising sign for a player who’s been held back by a knee injury, especially since the team will be without fellow starting safety Jordan Whitehead, whose season was cut short due to injuries sustained in a car accident.

With that, here is the Bucs injury report after Wednesday:

• TE Devin Culp — ribs — full participant 
• LB Lavonte David — knee — limited participant 
• CB Jamel Dean — knee — limited participant 
• S Mike Edwards — quadriceps — limited participant 
• WR Mike Evans — rest — limited participant 
• DL William Gholston — knee — full participant 
• DL Logan Hall — groin — did not participate 
• DB Josh Hayes — ribs — full participant 
• CB Troy Hill — knee/foot — full participant 
• RB Bucky Irving — shoulder/shin — full participant 
• WR Jalen McMillan — finger — full participant 
• TE Cade Otton — knee — limited participant 
• WR Sterling Shepard — foot/knee — limited participant 
• S Tykee Smith — personal — did not participate 
• S Antoine Winfield Jr. — knee — full participant 
• T Tristan Wirfs — quadriceps — limited participant

Commanders Injury Report

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels and Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Here is the Washington Commanders’ injury report after Wednesday:

• TE Zach Ertz — NIR/rest — did not participate 
• DE Clelin Ferrell — knee/NIR/rest — did not participate 
• OLB Dante Fowler Jr. — NIR/rest — did not participate 
• WR Terry McLaurin — NIR/rest — did not participate 
• C Tyler Biadasz — ankle — limited participant 
• S Jeremy Chinn — rib — limited participant 
• T Brandon Coleman — knee — limited participant
• WR Jamison Crowder — groin — limited participant 
• T Cornelius Lucas — groin — limited participant 
• TE John Bates — shoulder — full participant 
• QB Jayden Daniels — quad — full participant 
• CB Marshon Lattimore — hamstring — full participant 
• LB Frankie Luvu — shoulder — full participant 
• LB Jordan Magee — hamstring — full participant 
• S Quan Martin — illness — full participant 
• TE Colson Yankoff — hamstring — full participant