By james art Rookie Bucky Irving doesn’t practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until Friday and then is limited, but his toe injury won’t keep him out of a Week 8 rematch with the Atlanta Falcons. Irving currently leads the Buccaneers in rushing yards (351), scrimmage yards (475) and rushing touchdowns (three).
Tight end Payne Durham, also listed as questionable on Friday, will return to action after missing one game with a calf injury. Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett was the third player listed as questionable for the Buccaneers in Week Eight, but that was largely due to his roster status and he was activated from injured reserve on Saturday. He has been training hard all week.
The Bucs will play their first game since 2021 without wide receiver Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Evans is inactive for the game with a hamstring injury and Godwin is on injured reserve and out for the season with a sprained ankle. In addition, rookie defensive end Tyky Smith (concussion), the team’s starting nickel back and defensive end Greg Gaines (calf) are out for Week Eight with injuries.
The Buccaneers and Falcons submitted their inactive player lists at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday, 90 minutes before the scheduled start of their Week Eight matchup at Raymond James Stadium. After promoting quarterback Michael Pratt from the practice squad Saturday, the Buccaneers had 54 players available and thus had to name six inactives to reach the 48 game day limit. The Falcons promoted defensive end Demon Harris and cornerback Natron Brooks from the practice squad and therefore had to list seven inactives on Sunday.
- WR Mike Evans
- DL Greg Gaines
- G Royce Newman
- QB Michael Pratt
- OLB Jose Ramirez
- S Tykee Smith
Evans, Gaines and Smith are out with injury.
- LB Troy Andersen
- DL Brandon Dorlus
- RB Jace McClellan
- T Brandon Parker
- S Justin Simmons
- DL Kentavius Street
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Andersen and Simmons are out due to injury.