Bucs head coach Todd Bowles held his first post-bye press briefing Wednesday and if you were expecting some definitive news on the status of Bucs tailback Bucky Irving, receiver Chris Godwin or linebacker Haason Reddick, you’ll just have to remain patient.

Bowles provided little in the way of a firm update on Irving’s foot and shoulder injuries sustained in Week 4 against Philadelphia, Godwin’s fibula injury suffered in Week 5 against Seattle or Reddick’s ankle and knee injuries from Week 7 against Detroit.

“They’re coming along,” he said. “Obviously, they’re getting treatment and they’re training. They do a lot of stuff in the morning. So, when they’re capable of coming back out there doing more, we’ll have them do more. It’s possible. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Of course, the key question is what Sunday will bring when the Bucs host the New England Patriots their 1 p.m. showdown between two division leaders: 6-2 Tampa Bay in the NFC South, and 7-2 New England in the AFC West.

The speculation lately has been that Irving will be ready, and he’s listed as questionable for the game. And Bowles could just acting coy about his starting running back to keep the Patriots in the dark during the week.

But based on his cautious assessment, it could also mean the Bucs may be once again going with a primary rushing combo of Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, relying heavily on the impressive rookie wideout tandem of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, who emerged as the defensive hero of Tampa Bay’s 23-3 win over New Orleans before the bye week.

As for Irving, Bowles offered, “I mean, he’s still coming along. He’s running, but you know, he hasn’t taken any contact with the shoulder, so we’ll see how it heals.”

There was no clear picture, either, for second-year wide receiver Jalen MacMillan, who suffered a neck injury in an August exhibition game against Pittsburgh. Initially described as a severe neck sprain, the Bucs revealed recently that he had suffered several bone fractures in his neck. Asked if MacMillan might still be projected for a December return, Bowles provided that familiar refrain: “We’ll see how it heals.”

There was no information given about when the team learned of the extent of MacMillan’s injury, after first being called a severe sprain.

“It was a while after that, but we kind of knew it when he got tests – as he went and got more tests done,” Bowles said. “So, as far as we’re concerned, it was very similar to what he had, but it just takes longer to heal.”

Meanwhile, here are the other topics he touched upon:

(On how tackle Luke Goedeke looked in practice on Wednesday)

“He was limited. It was just good to see him out there running around. Obviously, he’s got to go through some things and we’ve got to get in pads and he’s got to do quite a few things, but it was good to see him out there moving.”

(On whether the team came close to making a move at the trade deadline, and if compensation was the issue)

“I think it’s always a matter of compensation. Things (were) discussed, but nothing really materialized close.”

(On if standing pat at the trade deadline reflects confidence in injured players returning down the stretch)

“It’s not just confidence. It’s just a matter of things working out how you want them to work out. It’s not a confidence thing with the other guys, or it’s not a detriment (thing) at the same time if we don’t get anybody …. It’s just, you see some things that can try to make you better, and if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t fit you and it doesn’t fit what you’re trying to do, then you just move on.”

(On how the team can maintain its defensive momentum through the Bye Week)

“Just starting over, doing the little things right. At this point, everybody has seen what you’re going to do, you’ve seen what they’re going to do. It’s a matter of executing and who executes more.”

(On whether WR Chris Godwin Jr. is running in his recovery yet)

“Everybody is running. It’s just a matter of them getting ready to play.”

(On quarterback Baker Mayfield not running the ball as much as of late)

“I don’t think it (has) presented itself. I think people got it on film now, and everybody is kind of spying and keeping somebody in the middle and they’re taking away those lanes. So, that kind of has a lot to do with it, as well.”

(On what he can Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard have identified as areas for improvement on the offense)

“It’s execution. I mean, we’ve got to coach it better (and) we’ve got to play it better. It’s execution, really. Everybody has seen some things – we’ve got to tweak a few things on both sides of the ball, special teams as well. We’ve got to grind out some points. There are going to be some days where we don’t score as many – we’ve got to grind them out. And there are going to be games where we score quite a bit of points. So, as long as we win them, that’s the key. We’re not going to score 30 (or) 40 points every week, and we’re not going to shut people out every week. But, as a team – two or three of our units – you try to get them all to play well at the same time, and that’ll help you in the second half of the season. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

(On if he knows who might start at right guard this week if everyone is healthy)

“Not at this time. Obviously, they all can’t get first-team reps there, but we’ll see when we get in shoulder pads tomorrow and kind of make decisions going from there.”

(On if the team is “refreshed” after the Bye Week)

“As refreshed as you’re going to be. I mean, it’s more of a mental thing than it is a physical thing. If you can just not think about football from a game-plan standpoint for a couple days, that kind of refreshes you. Now, we’ve got to lock back in and get ready for the stretch run.”

(On if he was able to unplug for a few days during the Bye Week)

“I was able to do that for a day and a half…And that was like two weeks for me. So, it was great.”

(On visiting his son at the University of Michigan to watch him play college football)

“He played. He did a good job. I was proud of him.”

(On what the offense can do to get the running game going)

“We’ve got to block it better. At the same time, we’ve got to understand that we’re not going to hit our head up against a brick wall. If they’ve got too many people up there, we’ve got to throw it and loosen it up as well. So, again, we’ve got to coach it and scheme it up and at the same time, the guys have got to block it, too.”

(On the defense stepping up in Week 8 vs. New Orleans amid offensive injuries)

“I mean, it was huge. I mean, that’s what good teams do. They have different guys step up every week regardless of what side of the ball. Everybody cheers for each other – Baker (Mayfield) cheers for the defense, the defense cheers for the offense, special teams…If somebody can come up and make a play, that’s how you win games. You’re not going to win games with the same guys every week. Different guys have to step up in order for your team to get better.”

(On how WR Emeka Egbuka looks after the Bye Week)

“He looks good. I mean, he looked good today. He was full speed. He ran around. He looked like his normal self.”