After ruling three key gamers out for Sunday’s Week 3 contest towards the Broncos at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs adopted up with extra unhealthy information on Saturday afternoon.
With proper sort out Luke Goedeke (concussion), defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (calf) and security Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) already out, Tampa Bay downgraded two extra gamers from uncertain to out for Sunday’s matchup with Denver. Nostril sort out Vita Vea (knee) and vast receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle) will now miss out because the Bucs look to enhance to 3-0 for the primary time since 2005.
Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Vea left final week’s win over the Lions with a knee harm that seemed to be critical, nevertheless it shortly grew to become clear that the Bucs had averted the worst-case situation. The veteran has a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and head coach Todd Bowles referred to him as “day-to-day” quite than week-to-week. In actual fact, after lacking observe Wednesday and Thursday, Vea was a restricted participant on Friday. Nonetheless, he was listed as “uncertain” heading into the weekend and is now formally out.
Johnson, in the meantime, practiced in a restricted capability Wednesday earlier than lacking observe each Thursday and Friday. He was additionally tagged with a “uncertain” standing on Friday’s harm report, however like Vea, he’ll now formally be sidelined on Sunday.
Bucs Elevate Two From The Apply Squad For Sunday’s Recreation
With Vea and Johnson now dominated out for Sunday’s sport towards the Broncos, the Bucs have elevated two gamers from their observe squad to the gameday roster. After selling defensive lineman C.J. Brewer to the energetic roster and waiving cornerback Keenan Isaac on Friday, Tampa Bay is bringing defensive lineman Mike Greene and vast receiver Sterling Shepard up for its Week 3 sport.
Greene is being elevated from the observe squad for the third time in three weeks to start out this season. He had a sort out in every of his appearances in Weeks 1 and a couple of. Initially signed as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison after coming in as a tryout participant in 2022, the 6-foot-3, 293-pound 25-year-old has appeared in 12 video games for the Bucs, beginning two video games and racking up eight tackles.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Sterling Shepard – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Shepard, however, is way extra skilled however shall be making his Buccaneer debut in Sunday’s sport towards the Broncos. Signed this summer season as a free agent, the veteran vast receiver has 372 catches, 4,095 yards and 23 touchdowns to his title over 90 profession video games with the New York Giants between 2016 and 2023.
A lot was initially product of Shepard’s signing, as he was teammates with Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma. There’s clearly a preestablished rapport and friendship between the 2, in order that paired with the 31-year-old’s success in New York created some pleasure for a large receiving corps that lacked expertise outdoors of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
#Bucs WR Sterling Shepard shares what he loved most about enjoying with QB Baker Mayfield again in faculty at Oklahoma.#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/aQ4lIO4XV3
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) June 11, 2024
But Shepard was inconsistent in coaching camp, largely as a result of the truth that he was banged up on a few events. Nonetheless, he signed with Tampa Bay’s observe squad out of camp and can now go well with up for the workforce on Sunday afternoon.
