The Bucs have placed reserve defensive tackle Earnest Brown IV on injured reserve due to a rib injury. Brown will miss the first four games of the season as a result. The move was first reported by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman on X.

As Auman reports, newly signed defensive tackle Ben Stille could be active on Sunday even though the team just added him on Thursday. He has yet to practice with the team.

Bucs DT Earnest Brown – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Reserve defensive tackle Logan Hall has missed the last two practices with a foot injury and he is in jeopardy of not suiting up for the 2024 season opener against Washington on Sunday.

If Hall can’t play that would leave the Bucs with just four healthy defensive tackles in addition to Stille, the newcomer. Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey will start with experienced veterans Greg Gaines and Will Gholston being the next defensive tackles to enter the game.

“The challenge for us is not only are we going to have to keep fresh guys in there to chase this quarterback, but we’re going to have to understand that they’re a tempo team,” Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said about the problems his short-handed unit will face on Sunday against Washington. “They don’t let you substitute. They kind of play on their own terms. There’s a lot of factors with them. They create a lot of problems for you.”

Bucs Injury Report – Thursday

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

DT Earnest Brown IV – ribs – did not participate (limited on Wednesday)
DT Logan Hall – foot – did not participate
OLB Yaya Diaby – ankle – full participant
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – shoulder – full participant
ILB SirVocea Dennis – shoulder – full participant
ILB J.J. Russell – ribs – full participant
CB Tyrek Funderburk – foot – full participant
CB Josh Hayes – hip – full participant
S Jordan Whitehead – quadriceps – full participant
S Kaevon Merriweather – knee – full participant
K Chase McLaughlin – abdomen/illness – full participant (DNP on Wednesday)
WR Trey Palmer – concussion – full participant
OT Justin Skule – abdomen – full participant

Commanders Injury Report – Thursday

QB Marcus Mariota – chest – did not participate (limited on Wednesday)
DT Jer’Zhan Newton – foot – did not participate (limited on Wednesday)
OT Brandon Coleman – shoulder – full participant
DE Clelin Ferrell – knee – full participant
DE Dante Fowler – knee – full participant
DT Daron Payne – back – full participant (limited on Wednesday)
OT Trent Scott – knee – full participant (limited on Wednesday)