It feels like this season that injuries to important players has been par for the course for the Bucs this year. But when it’s arguably their best player, it hits a little different.

For the second time this season, the Bucs are going to be without safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for multiple games. As head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday, Winfield has a sprained knee and will miss “a little while.” When asked about what that meant specifically, he said a couple of games.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt – Photo by: USA Today

Winfield left yesterday’s 28-13 win for the Bucs over the Raiders relatively early after playing just 16 snaps in the game. This means that Tampa Bay will be without its top two safeties in Winfield and Jordan Whitehead for at least the next two games coming up against the Chargers and Cowboys.

Whitehead went on injured reserve on November 29 due to a pectoral injury he suffered while tackling Tommy DeVito in the Bucs’ 30-7 victory over the Giants a few weeks ago. He’s eligible to come off of injured reserve after the Cowboys game.

With four games to go, Tampa Bay might have some hope that Winfield can get back for the season finale against the Saints at home in Raymond James Stadium. If not, then it would make sense to put him on injured reserve as well and open up a roster spot. It’s been a tough season for Winfield from an injury standpoint.

He got hurt with a foot injury very late in the game of the season opener against the Commanders that kept him on the shelf from Weeks 2 through 5. This time a knee injury could keep him out for potentially just as long.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs had already been making moves with safety in recent weeks. They used several safeties on Sunday after Winfield went out by rotating Tykee Smith, Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather and Tavierre Thomas.

They also have Mike Edwards on the active roster, but he missed this game with a hamstring injury he suffered in Carolina the previous week.

Tampa Bay has options on the practice squad, too. They just recently signed Ryan Neal and also have Marcus Banks and Rashad Wisdom that can all be elevated for game days if necessary. Regardless of what they decide, it’s going to be tough sledding without Winfield on the back end of the defense.

Bucs Injury Update On Bucky Irving

The news was slightly better when it came to an update on Bucs running back Bucky Irving. The rookie sensation attempted to fight through a back injury on Sunday but was taken out after just 10 snaps. He could be in play for Week 15 depending on how he heals up.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s tightened up, we got to see how he feels,” Bowles said. “If we can get it loosened up, he should be okay. If not, we’ll see how the week goes.”

Tampa Bay has excellent depth at running back if Irving is not able to go, although he adds a different element to the Bucs’ ground game. Rachaad White stepped up in a big way during Sunday’s game, rushing for 90 yards on 17 attempts with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown. That was the first time in White’s career that he scored by rushing and receiving in the same game.

Sean Tucker also helped out at the end having a big 34-yard run in the fourth quarter to get near the goal line and essentially put the game away. White scored on the next play from three yards out.

Tampa Bay is very capable with White and Tucker as a duo going up against a tough Chargers defense this week. Irving and White already rotate a good amount as it is. We shall see during the week how available Irving can be on Sunday in Los Angeles.