The task of stopping Vikings rookie running back Dalvin Cook on Sunday just got a little more difficult.
The Bucs injury report came out following practice on Friday, and starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander has been ruled out for Sunday.
Alexander left the game against the Bears last Sunday early in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return. Following the game against Chicago, Alexander vowed to be back at practice on Wednesday but obviously the training and coaching staff had other ideas.
Hamstring injuries are dealt with using extra caution in most cases, as a minor injury can turn into a severe and sometimes season-long injury if a player returns to early. At the very least it can become a nagging injury if not allowed to heal 100 percent.
Rookie Kendell Beckwith filled in for Alexander on Sunday, and played relatively well. Adarius Glanton filled in for Beckwith at the strongside position and most likely that is what the starting lineup will look like against Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.
In other injury report news, Chris Baker and Jacquies Smith are both doubtful with the flu, Gerald McCoy(ankle), Devante Bond(knee), Brent Grimes(shoulder) and Kevin Pamphile(illness) are listed as questionable.
That’s a lot of injuries for 1 game in to the season. So we’ll be missing our starting RB (not an injury I know), starting LG, starting NT, starting MLB and we might (although probably not) be missing our starting #1CB, and our starting DT.
Whatever happened to the 24 hour flu.
Losing Alexander definitely is a blow to the defense, but at least we saw Beckwith fill in nicely vs the Bears. Kwon getting 100% healthy is vital going forward. Having Bond be a full participant today, and likely playing, is a needed bonus to the LB group. Bradford being out likely means more runs by Cook. Siliga, McDonald, Gholston and the LB gotta bring it.
Is Bradford playing?
We have to keep our Offense out on the field more than our Defense. Baker can’t get a break right now; I’d like to see what he still has left in his tank?
Bradford is out. Vikings Still good defense and run game. These injuries suck for second game of year.
Getting Beckwith looks like genius right now. Glanton did well also, will D. Bond ever show up? Think some of those questionable players, play. Baker is a gamer, not a practice”r, lol.
Bond was a full participant at practice yesterday, so all signs point to him being available and likely to play on Sunday.
We absolutely need to win this road game and start 0-2. It’s huge game. We have to take advantage of Bradford out. I had this game circled as an L but without Bradford very doable.
Plus is stupid back up Keemun beats us again I’ll cry. He sucks. Lol.