We still don’t know exactly how long some of the Bucs starters will play for on Sunday when they go against the Falcons. What we do know is that the Bucs will definitely be without four players heading into the contest.

Todd Bowles ruled out four players for the matchup this weekend. They were cornerback Carlton Davis III (shoulder), safety Logan Ryan (knee), left tackle Donovan Smith (foot) and outside linebacker Carl Nassib (pectoral) will not be able to go in the regular season finale.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The first three players did not practice all week. Davis even missed last Sunday’s crucial playoff clinching game while Smith was out the week before when the Bucs defeated the Cardinals. Ryan has played in every game since Week 13 after coming off of the injured reserve list with an ankle injury. Nassib was limited in practice all week, but has been out

As Bowles said at the end of the video, there is a chance that nose tackle Vita Vea could play. Vea did not practice at all during the week and was out for Weeks 15 and 16 before returning for last game.

Bucs’ Options At The Respective Positions

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has plenty of depth in the secondary and on the interior defensive line to fill in for Davis, Ryan and potentially Vea. What they have at offensive tackle and outside linebacker is another story.

Presumably, Brandon Walton will get the start at left tackle. He’s played in 10 games this season and started in Week 3. Outside of that, the Bucs have tackles Dylan Cook, Grant Hermanns and Justin Skule on the practice squad. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if one of them got called up.

With Nassib out recently, outside linebackers Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson have had to play every defensive snap and have done very well.

If the Bucs wanted to give them some breaks this time around given the situation of the game, they could move Logan Hall out to the edge or call up Ulysees Gilbert, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Hamilcar Rashed or Charles Snowden from the practice squad for this weekend to add a little depth.