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Rachaad White Rachaad White In line for another spot start
Fri, Nov 7, 2025, 3:03 PM
White is slated to lead the Buccaneers backfield Sunday against the Patriots with Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) ruled out for that contest, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Irving has been sidelined since coming out of Week 4 action with a shoulder subluxation and a left foot sprain and so far hasn't been able to mix into any drills since late September. White has been the biggest beneficiary in Irving's absence, totaling 262 yards from scrimmage and three rushing TDs on 67 touches over the last four games. Reserve RB Sean Tucker (26 touches for 72 total yards and two rushing TDs) also has been in the mix during that span. The going may be tough for White in Week 10 versus a New England defense that has held opposing running backs to an NFL-best 3.1 yards per carry this season. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Out again
Fri, Nov 7, 2025, 11:33 AM
Godwin (fibula) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against New England, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Godwin hasn't practiced for a month and now will miss a fourth consecutive game. Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard likely will be Tampa Bay's top three WRs again. |
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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Ruled out for Sunday
Fri, Nov 7, 2025, 11:31 AM
Irving (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against New England, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: A Week 9 bye didn't seem to do him much good, with Irving still absent from practice and now missing a fifth straight game. Rachaad White figures to get another start and plenty of touches, backed up by Sean Tucker and Josh Williams. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Remaining sidelined at practice
Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 10:35 AM
Godwin (fibula) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Godwin has yet to resume on-field work following the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye and appears to be on track to miss his fourth consecutive game this Sunday against the Patriots. Unless Godwin is able to reverse the trend and practice in some fashion Friday, expect the Buccaneers to officially rule him out for Sunday's game on their final Week 10 injury report. |
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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Missing another practice
Thu, Nov 6, 2025, 10:32 AM
Irving (foot/shoulder) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Despite the benefit of a Week 9 bye, Irving has yet to show any tangible sign of progress as he rebounds from a shoulder subluxation and a left foot sprain. He's now sat out both of the Buccaneers' first two practices of the week and appears to be trending toward a fifth consecutive missed game Sunday versus the Patriots. Irving's expected absence will continue to pave the way for Rachaad White to lead the Tampa Bay backfield, with Sean Tucker handling a secondary role. |
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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Still not practicing
Wed, Nov 5, 2025, 3:32 PM
Irving (foot/shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Irving thus will continue to sit out drills following the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye, meaning he may be on pace for his fifth consecutive absence due to foot and shoulder issues. He does have two more chances to practice this week, but Friday's injury report may reveal that another DNP is imminent Sunday against the Patriots. Rachaad White is on hand to lead Tampa Bay's backfield if Iriving requires more time to recover. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Sitting out practice
Wed, Nov 5, 2025, 9:58 AM
Godwin (lower leg) is not expected to participate in Wednesday's practice, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Godwin remains sidelined at practice despite Tampa Bay having had the benefit of a Week 9 bye. Head coach Todd Bowles said prior to the bye that Godwin is "week-to-week," though he confirmed that the veteran wideout's fibula injury has no danger of being season-ending. Still, Godwin may be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, in which case wideouts Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson, plus tight end Cade Otton, will be in line to handle increased receiving work behind rookie standout Emeka Egbuka. |
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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Not in line to practice
Wed, Nov 5, 2025, 9:55 AM
Irving (foot/shoulder) is not expected to participate in Wednesday's practice, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Irving evidently remains in the rehab phase of his recovery from foot and shoulder injuries that have kept him sidelined since Week 4 despite the fact that the Buccaneers are coming off a bye. If he's unable to gain clearance for Sunday's home matchup against the Patriots, Tampa Bay will proceed with a familiar backfield deployment that features Rachaad White and Sean Tucker as its lead options. Chris Godwin (lower leg) is also expected to miss Wednesday's practice. |
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Payne Durham Payne Durham No catches through eight games
Wed, Oct 29, 2025, 11:17 AM
Durham went without a target while playing 32 of the Buccaneers' 58 snaps on offense in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.
Analysis: Durham logged 101 receptions over his final two collegiate seasons at Purdue, but he's seen sparse involvement in the passing game since entering the NFL as a fifth-round pick of Tampa Bay in 2023. Though he's played at least 20 percent of the snaps in every game this season while working as the No. 2 tight end behind Cade Otton, Durham has run just 19 routes while drawing one uncaught target. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Minimal output in Week 8 win
Wed, Oct 29, 2025, 11:14 AM
Shepard finished with an eight-yard reception on two targets in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.
Analysis: With the Buccaneers placing Mike Evans (collarbone) on injured reserve prior to Sunday's game and with Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out for the third contest in a row, Shepard appeared primed to see an expanded role in the Tampa Bay passing attack in a favorable matchup with the Saints. That ultimately didn't come to fruition, as the Buccaneers cruised to an easy win thanks to four Saints turnovers that created short fields for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who dropped back just 27 times on the day. Shepard was one of just five Tampa Bay pass catchers targeted in the win, with none eclipsing 43 receiving yards. Shepard ended up playing just 41 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory, and his role could be downsized further if Godwin and/or Jalen McMillan (neck) are able to return following the Buccaneers' Week 9 bye. |
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Emeka Egbuka Emeka Egbuka Struggles continue post-injury
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 8:10 PM
Egbuka finished with three receptions on nine targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 23-3 win over New Orleans.
Analysis: Egbuka did not carry an injury designation in Week 8, but the final results suggest that he is still isn't playing at 100 percent. The talented rookie finished with a catch rate below 50 percent for the second week in a row, the only two times he has fallen below that mark this season. Fortunately for fantasy managers, Egbuka will get an extra week of recovery for his nagging hamstring with Tampa Bay on bye in Week 9. A refreshed Egbuka will look to get back on track when the Buccaneers host the Patriots on Nov. 9. |
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Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Elevates play against New Orleans
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 7:24 PM
Tucker took 12 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown without being targeted as a receiver in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.
Analysis: Tucker saw a nearly even split in carries with fill-in starter Rachaad White (13-35-0), but it was the latter who produced the favorable fantasy score this time around. The 23-year-old Tucker was limited to just two touches in last week's loss to Detroit, so Sunday's outburst comes as a pleasant surprise for those in deeper formats who rolled the dice on Tampa Bay's third-string RB. Tucker has scored twice in the four games sans starter Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder), but he managed just seven total rushing yards in the two contests he failed to hit pay dirt. It probably isn't wise to add Tucker following Sunday's strong showing with the Buccaneers on a bye in Week 9 coupled with the potential for Irving to return to the lineup against the Patriots on Nov. 9. |
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Rachaad White Rachaad White Lesser of tandem backfield Sunday
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 7:12 PM
White rushed 13 times for 35 yards and had two receptions on as many targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.
Analysis: White got another start in place of injured starter Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) in Week 8, leading the Buccaneers' backfield in carries (13) and touches (15) in a comfortable win. That's where the good news ends, as backfield mate Sean Tucker (12-42-1) finished as the team's leading rusher while scoring its only touchdown on offense Sunday. With the Buccaneers on a bye in Week 9, there is a possibility that Irving could be ready to return when Tampa Bay resumes play against New England on Nov. 9. White would lose nearly all of his fantasy value in that scenario, so managers have to weigh whether it is worth holding on to the backup through the bye week. |
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Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield Deals with unfavorable game script
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 6:35 PM
Mayfield (knee) completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 152 yards, no touchdowns and one lost fumble while recording no rushing attempts in Sunday's 23-3 win over New Orleans.
Analysis: Tampa Bay's defense (one touchdown), running game (one touchdown) and special teams (11 points) generated all of Tampa Bay's scoring in Sunday's one-sided victory. The unfavorable game script and Mayfield's first lost fumble of the season resulted in his worst fantasy score this campaign. The early MVP candidate's 152 passing yards also checked in as his lowest total through eight starts. Mayfield is still providing fantasy managers with 1,919 passing yards and 13 touchdowns (three turnovers) following the low-use outing, putting him on pace for a third consecutive 4,000-yard season. The 6-2 Buccaneers will enter a much-needed bye in Week 9, potentially giving Mayfield more of his weapons back when play resumes against the Patriots on Nov. 9. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Filling No. 2 receiver role Sunday
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 2:13 PM
Shepard is projected to operate as the No. 2 receiver in Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Saints due to the absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The veteran wideout started the Week 7 loss to the Lions working as the No. 3 receiver, but he bumped up a notch on the depth chart during the game when Evans exited with his pair of injuries. Shepard wound up with a season-high seven receptions on his seven targets against Detroit, albeit while netting only 25 receiving yards. Sunday, Shepard is due to begin the game as the No. 2 wideout, and he could certainly benefit from the defensive attention likely to be showered on rookie position mate Emeka Egbuka. |
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Tez Johnson Tez Johnson Added opportunity on tap Sunday
Sun, Oct 26, 2025, 2:06 PM
Johnson is set to work as the Buccaneers' No. 3 receiver and likely see an increase in snap count and targets during Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Saints due to the absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The rookie has already been making his mark in the Buccaneers' offense in recent games, recording his first pair of NFL touchdowns and two four-catch tallies in his last three contests. Johnson logged a career-high nine targets in the Week 7 loss to the Lions on Monday night as part of the ripple effect of Evans' early exit and Godwin's absence, and with the same conditions at play Sunday, the Oregon product could capitalize. |
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Teddy Bridgewater Teddy Bridgewater Ready to rock
Fri, Oct 24, 2025, 2:16 PM
Bridgewater (teeth) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Although Bridgewater missed the Buccaneers' first two practices this week, he was a full go Friday, indicating that he's ready to play in Sunday's contest. Now fully healthy, the 2014 first-round pick is expected to operate as Tampa Bay's No. 2 quarterback in the Week 8 divisional matchup. |
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Emeka Egbuka Emeka Egbuka Avoids injury designation
Fri, Oct 24, 2025, 1:40 PM
Egbuka (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at New Orleans, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Egbuka played through the same injury in a 24-9 loss at Detroit on Monday, catching four of 12 targets for 58 yards while leading Tampa's WRs in snap share (76 percent) and route share (81 percent). He could get even more playing time this week, especially after upgrading to full practice participation Friday. Fellow wideout Mike Evans (collarbone) is expected to miss most of the rest of the season, with Chris Godwin (fibula) out at least through a Week 9 bye. |
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Teddy Bridgewater Teddy Bridgewater Misses Thursday's practice
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 5:27 PM
Bridgewater (teeth) did not participate in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Bridgewater has missed the first two practices of the week, so Friday's injury report will provide clarity on whether he serves as Baker Mayfield's backup against the Saints on Sunday. Connor Bazelak is the lone quarterback on the practice squad, so he would likely be elevated to the active roster for Week 8 if Bridgewater is unable to play. |
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Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield Full practice Thursday
Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 3:39 PM
Mayfield (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Analysis: One day removed from being limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Mayfield bumped all the way back to full, ensuring that he'll be under center for the Buccaneers on Sunday at New Orleans. Who will be joining him remains to be seen with WR Mike Evans (concussion/collarbone) out for most of the rest of the season and RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WR Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out for Week 8. On a positive note, rookie standout WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) followed up Wednesday's absence with a limited session Thursday, meaning he's trending in a positive direction to be among Mayfield's top targets this weekend. |
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