The Bucs will be holding tryouts at One Buccaneer Place for wide receivers on Wednesday as the team lost its top two weapons in a brutal loss to the Ravens on Monday night, 41-13. Mike Evans re-injured his hamstring on an attempted touchdown catch in the second quarter and is having an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of his injury. The expectation is that he will miss a few weeks of action – probably through the bye in Week 11.

But the more catastrophic injury occurred to Chris Godwin, the team’s leading receiver and one of top receivers in the NFL. With 43 seconds left and trailing by 10 points with no timeouts, Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and is out for the year. It’s the most unfortunate news possible for the 28-year old receiver, who is in a contract year and having his best season since 2019.

Godwin will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, and Evans might be on a short-term I.R. with the chance to possibly return after four weeks. Tampa Bay might get some help along the way as Rakim Jarrett is working his way back from an I.R. stint to open the season, but he is an even more unknown commodity than rookie receiver Jalen McMillan, who has struggled mightily at times. In addition to McMillan and Jarrett, the Bucs also have veteran Sterling Shepard and second-year player Trey Palmer on hand.

Certainly not an ideal group for Baker Mayfield to work with as the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons come to town on Sunday.

The Bucs will need to add at least two more receivers to the roster, especially with undrafted free agent rookie Kameron Johnson also being placed on injured reserve prior to Monday’s game due to an ankle injury. Pewter Report has learned that one of the players that will be trying out is Tampa native Byron Pringle, who signed with Kansas City in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out Kansas State.

Former Chiefs WR Byron Pringle – Photo by: USA Today

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Pringle won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs and played in K.C. through the 2021 season before signing with Chicago in 2022. He was placed on injured reserve at the start of that season before being active for the rest of it in November. Pringle played the 2023 with Washington and re-signed with the Commanders in 2024 before being released on September 6 in the final roster cutdowns.

The 30-year old Pringle has caught 91 career passes for 1,194 yards (13.1 avg.) and nine touchdowns. His best season came in 2021 when he hauled in a career-high 42 passes for 568 yards (13.5 avg.) and five touchdowns. Pringle has kick return ability and has averaged 26.9 yards per return with a 102-yard touchdown in the 2020 season.

Whether it’s Pringle or another receiver that signs with the Bucs after Wednesday’s workout, that new addition could likely start on the practice squad to bide time to learn Liam Coen’s offense. Ryan Miller, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster against New Orleans in Week 6, would likely be elevated again in the meantime. Tampa Bay also has Marquez Callaway and Tanner Knue on the practice squad as options.

Will The Bucs Trade For Rams Cooper Kupp?

Rams WR Cooper Kupp – Photo by: USA Today

With Rams receiver Cooper Kupp reportedly on the trade block, would Tampa Bay be interested in acquiring him? The reported asking price for the 31-year old Kupp, is a second-round pick. And he would come to the Bucs with a strong understanding of Liam Coen’s offense since Coen’s offense is modeled after the Rams’ attack from the time he spent with the organization.

Kupp is ready to return from a hamstring injury that limited him to the first two weeks of the season. He has 18 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown this year, including 14 receptions for 110 yards and his TD in Week 1 versus Detroit.

Kupp made the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro in 2021 when he led the NFL with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, helping to beat Tampa Bay in the NFC Divisional round of the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl championship. Kupp’s production has fallen off since then as he’s missed 18 games over the past three seasons, as Puka Nacua has emerged as the Rams’ top target.

Pewter Report has learned that the Bucs aren’t ready to pull the trigger on a trade for a wide receiver, including Kupp, at this time. No receiver is going to come in on Wednesday and learn the offense sufficiently enough to help the team beat the Falcons on Sunday.

If Tampa Bay beats Atlanta and moves to 2-1 in the NFC South the team might be more inclined to make a trade or two in order to help the chances of winning a fourth straight division title. But if the Bucs lose and get swept by the Falcons it might be too daunting of a feat to catch Atlanta and the front office might just see how the season plays out. General manager Jason Licht places heavy value on the team’s draft picks and doesn’t part with them easily or often.