By james art At first glance, almost everything looked the same for the Bucs during Friday’s practice, which was their second practice of the week since playing Monday Night Football. Again, there was no Lavonte David, Bucky Irving, Greg Gaines or Sterling Shepard.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today
Irving was to be expected as he is dealing with a chronic toe injury that makes it look like he won’t be able to practice often for the remainder of the season. As we learned from offensive coordinator Liam Cohen, the Bucs have a special “Bucky Walk” at the end of each week to make up for him not practicing during the week.
“That’s what we did last week before our Saturday practice there,” Cohen said. “Before that as a unit we had a different lead and that was really a Buckeye lead. So we’re going to keep doing that and catch up.”
At least Shepard was running separately on another field as he was inches closer to a play. At least David was seen in the locker room, which is a better sign of his availability for Monday’s game against the Chiefs.
Big injury news with important Bucs DBs
Bucs DB Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today
The main difference for Friday’s practice was that free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was added to the injury report after not being there the day before. Winfield was listed with a leg injury and was limited in practice.
Of course, it was a leg injury that took him out from Weeks 2 through 5. It’s not known at this point if it was the same leg that got worse again or the other one.
Tampa Bay got some good news with rookie Tykee Smith. Smith practiced in a non-contact jersey on Thursday. To start practice on Friday, Smith put on a standard practice jersey, meaning he is inching closer to being cleared from the concussion protocol.
We’ll find out on Saturday if Smith is fully cleared and can be ready to go. Its status in practice has also been upgraded from limited to full participation.
Here’s Friday’s Bucs and Chiefs injury report.
Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Falcons WR Drake London – Photo by: USA Today
Bucs Friday Injury Report
- G Ben Bredeson — shoulder — limited participation
- LB Lavonte David — Ankle/Chest — Did not participate
- LS Evan Deckers — hamstring — full participation
- WR Mike Evans — hamstring — did not participate
- DL Greg Gaines — Calf — Did not participate
- DL William Gholston — Knee — Limited participation
- RB Bucky Irving — thumb — out
- WR Sterling Shepard — hamstring — did not participate
- S Tykee Smith — Concussion — Full participation
- S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Leg – Limited participation
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo by: USA Today
Chiefs Friday Injury Report
- DE Michael Danna — Pectoral — Limited participation
- OT Ethan Driskell — Illness — Full participation
- WR Mecole Hardman — Knee — Full participation
- RB Kareem Hunt — Four — Full participation
- S Neezah Johnson — Concussion — Limited participation
- QB Patrick Mahomes — ankle — full participation
- CB Trent McDuffie — knee — full participation
- NT Derrick Nnadi — triceps — full participation
- WR Juju Smith-Schuster — hamstring — did not participate
- LB Drue Tranquill — chest — full participation
- TE Jared Wiley – Knee – Limited participation