Tampa will be without several starters in its Week 4 clash against the Green Bay Packers and a few other key contributors are listed as questionable.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at much less than full strength.
The Bucs were already down starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss at least the next three games with a dislocated thumb. Tampa is now turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels with the season on the line.
Daniels’ job will be even more difficult with wide receiver Jalen McMillan out for 6-8 weeks with a PCL strain in his left knee.
While Mayfield and McMillan not playing in Week 4 has been known for a while, Tampa’s Friday injury report was full of more bad news, with a pair of key players ruled out and three more listed as questionable.
Ruled Out
Star rookie Rueben Bain Jr. will have to wait at least one more week to try to get his career on track.
After being a total non-factor in Tampa’s first two games after months of dominant play and hype this offseason, Bain had to miss the Bucs’ Week 3 game with groin and shoulder injuries. The hope is that Bain would return from his injuries fully healthy and look like the player most expected him to be.
Unfortunately for Tampa, he will need at least another week to heal before returning to the field, as he was ruled out for Sunday. With the Bucs also playing on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, the rookie will have a short week to improve enough to play in Week 5.
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison has also been ruled out for the game against the Packers with a quad injury. Morrison played only 11 snaps last week before sustaining the injury. He was limited in practice Thursday before not being able to practice at all on Friday, before officially being ruled out.
This is just the latest in a series of injuries for Morrison since being drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He has the talent to be the Bucs’ top CB, but has not shown the ability to stay on the field for long stretches thus far in his NFL career.
Depth tight end Ko Kieft will also be sidelined with an elbow injury.
Questionable
The Bucs also have a trio of key players who are officially listed as questionable for Sunday.
Linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who was listed on the injury report with both a calf injury and personal reasons, is questionable.
Defensive tackle Rakeen Nunez-Riches is also questionable with ankle and foot ailments. However, after not practicing on Wednesday, “Nacho” was upgraded to limited participation on Thursday before practicing in full on Friday.
Starting cornerback Jacob Parrish is also questionable. He wasn’t at practice Wednesday or Thursday for personal reasons before getting in a limited practice on Friday.
With Morrison already ruled out, the Bucs will be extremely shorthanded at cornerback if Parrish in unable to play.
