A banged-up Bucs’ team comes home to face the reeling Broncos in week three. Tampa Bay will have to make do for the second straight week without key starting right tackle Luke Goedeke and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Defensive end Calijah Kancey will also miss the game, delaying his 2024 debut yet another week. And added to the list is nose tackle Vita Vea.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Players Inactive for Today’s Game vs. Denver (9/22/24):

#19 WR Kameron Johnson
#31 S Antoine Winfield Jr.
#33 OLB Jose Ramirez
#50 NT Vita Vea
#67 T Luke Goedeke
#82 TE Devin Culp
#94 DL Calijah Kancey

Elevated from Practice Squad:
#91 DL Mike Greene
#17 WR Sterling…

— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) September 22, 2024

Bucs NT Vea’s Valiant Effort To Play Falls Short

Vea, who is suffering from a grade 2 MCL sprain was trying to play just a week after incurring his injury was listed as doubtful on Friday’s injury report. The team has decided to delay his comeback for at least one game. Last week the Bucs saw strong contributions from defensive lineman C.J. Brewer, who was on the team’s practice squad at the time. Tampa Bay promoted him to the active roster this week and he figures to have a considerable role once again.

Similarly, Christian Izien stepped in for Winfield last week in Detroit and had a hell of a game. The Bucs will hope for a similar performance from him this week.

Denver Broncos Injury Report

👀 our inactives for #DENvsTB.

📰 » https://t.co/Y5caM1H7Jt pic.twitter.com/fDg3TOy0ve

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 22, 2024

None of the players listed above are starters for the Broncos. However, the injury report belies an important move the team made earlier this week when they placed starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey on injured reserve. Rather than turn to veteran Matt Peart, it appears the team will try 2023 undrafted free agent Alex Palczewski.

“I want to give as much as effort as I can to protect the guys around me and play for the guys to the left and right of me.”

T Alex Palczewski set to make first NFL start » https://t.co/0rJMHSTNz6 pic.twitter.com/cgeOQHaUls

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 19, 2024