Just before the Bucs and Bills kickoff on Thursday night, both of the team’s inactive lists dropped, which confirmed some bad news for Tampa Bay.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
After being a game-time decision, Bucs nose tackle Vita Vea is out of tonight’s game after being on the injury report this week with a groin injury. There was some hope that he would play through it, but that ultimately will not be the case.
The decision to activate defensive tackle Deadrin Senat will be all the more crucial in getting some run defense, but no one is going to replace the big presence that Vita Vea has up the middle.
The other notable addition is rookie running back Sean Tucker. It appears that after getting some early-season touches, Tucker is not seen as anything more than an end-of-the-roster back, which is a questionable decision.
It makes sense that the Bucs would not carry four running backs with Chase Edmonds back, but surely Tucker has more upside at this point than Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Perhaps that is a move made later in the season.
Here is the full inactive list for the Bucs.
Inactives for #TBvsBUF ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/0r1PnQY7AY
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 26, 2023
Looking at the Bills, Ed Oliver, their defensive tackle, will be playing after being listed as questionable. The most notable player the Bucs will not be seeing tonight is safety Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin, who has been still looking to get fully back to health after his scary and sudden collapse on the field last season, has appeared in one game this year. That came in Week 4 against the Dolphins, where Hamlin had 18 special teams snaps.
Here is the full list on Buffalo’s side.
Tonight's inactives. #TBvsBUF pic.twitter.com/RLaraXaKPO
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 26, 2023