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The Bucs suffered a myriad of injuries in their 35-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday. They were all to important starters on the defensive side of the ball.
Bucs CB Jamel Dean and WR Olamide Zaccheaus – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Defensive tackle Vita Vea played only four snaps before leaving with a calf injury. Cornerback Jamel Dean exited with a toe injury and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka left the game because of a hip injury.
Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t have too much of an update the following day about the injuries other than that they’re waiting for results.
“Vita has got a strained calf, Dean has a toe injury, his big toe and Shoyinka has a hip,” Bowles said. “We’re waiting for results to come back now.”
However, shortly after Bowles spoke with the media, NFL Network’s Ian RapBuoport tweeted out an update on Dean, who is Tampa Bay’s second-string corner and the starter opposite of Carlton Davis III.
According to Rapoport, the big toe injury isn’t an overly serious issue, but it’s likely that he’ll miss some time. That means he’ll probably be out for Sunday’s home game against the Bengals, who have a great passing game and have won five games in a row.
#Bucs CB Jamel Dean suffered a big toe injury on Sunday, and source said it's not considered to be a serious one. That said, he is viewed as week-to-week and likely misses a little time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 12, 2022
Bucs Injured All Over In The Secondary
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey and S Logan Ryan – Photo by: USA Today
It’s going to be all hands on deck for Sunday as the Bucs attempt to stay in first place in the NFC South. Given the news about Dean, the Bucs have already been without corner Sean Murphy-Bunting and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards for the last two weeks.
If they’re all out again, this would leave Zyon McCollum and Dee Delaney to play outside corner and in the slot, while Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal would start at safety. The Bucs also called up Nolan Turner last game and presumably do so for the next one. With that said, Murphy-Bunting did practice this week before being ruled out Bowles also waited until Sunday to announce that Winfield and Edwards were out as well.
It would be a huge boost to the defense if any of those players could go, especially if it means only needing to decide between McCollum and Delaney for one spot.
