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About the Author: Bailey Adams
The Bucs are in a bad spot through eight games. They’re 3-5, having lost three straight games and five of their last six. After Thursday night’s 27-22 loss to the Ravens, the team has something of a mini bye week, as nine days will have passed by the time Tampa Bay returns to Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 6 to host the Rams.
There may be plenty of changes that the Bucs should make before the defending Super Bowl champions come to town. But what would also help is if Todd Bowles’ defense gets some of its key contributors back. Carlton Davis (hip) has been missing for the last two games. Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad), a key reserve cornerback, has missed an extended amount of time.
Bucs DT Akiem Hicks – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Akiem Hicks (foot) hasn’t played since Week 2. And Antoine Winfield Jr., who has been the defense’s best player this season, missed Week 8 with a concussion.
So, might the Bucs get any of these guys back in time for their matchup with the Rams? Bowles was asked about it during his Friday afternoon press conference and while it’s a wait-and-see situation, he mentioned that three guys are “close.”
“Hopefully,” Bowles said. “We’ll see in practice next week. Sean, Carlton and Hicks are close, but we’ll see how close.”
Getting Davis, their No. 1 corner, back in the lineup would be big for the Bucs. He and Jamel Dean form a formidable 1-2 for Tampa Bay’s defense, while Murphy-Bunting is an important presence as an experienced depth piece. With both Davis and Murphy-Bunting back, the secondary will have to rely less on reserves like Dee Delaney and rookie Zyon McCollum.
A return for Hicks could be a boost for the Bucs as well. He was brought in largely for his pass rushing prowess, which is something the Bucs will need to get from elsewhere now that Shaquil Barrett (Achilles) will miss the rest of the season. Perhaps Hicks can help the much-maligned run defense as well. It would mean less reliance on Rakeem Nunez-Roches and rookie Logan Hall, who are probably better served to play as rotational guys right now.
Bucs S Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The wild card here is Winfield. In a lot of ways, he’s the key to the Bucs’ defense. Whether he’s at safety or playing in the slot in nickel defense, the third-year defensive back has been up there with Dean as the team’s best and most consistent players this season. Winfield suffered a concussion in the Bucs’ Week 7 loss to Carolina, so a return to the lineup against Baltimore in Week 8 on a short week was never on the table.
But with the mini bye and some extended time off, perhaps he might find himself in play to return against Los Angeles next Sunday. Of course, it depends where in concussion protocol he is. That, along with the statuses of each of the other injured defenders, will be worth monitoring when Tampa Bay returns to practice this week.
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