The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a historically bad season from a defensive standpoint. Highlighted by a 500-yard, franchise-record performance from Kirk Cousins and 41-points given up to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, this Tampa Bay team has not been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks or successfully cover opposing receivers. This Bucs defense ranks 31st in passing yards given up and 28th in points given up per game.
When you speak about injured players on the Buccaneers, most people look to the season-ending injury to Chris Godwin, or Mike Evans' hamstring in that Monday night game against Baltimore. But injuries have definitely played a role in this season’s lackluster defensive play, with key starters like Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey and others missing extended time already this season.
Surely the injury bug isn’t the only reason as to why they’re able to be picked on at such a high rate though. Everyone saw this defense sport encouraging performances against the Lions and Commanders early on in the season, the sudden drop off can be attributed to a number of things, but you won’t find many that are in agreement on the defensive issues so far in 2024.
Let's review some of the most impactful injuries to the Buccaneers defense so far in 2024:
Jamel Dean
The Bucs had grown accustomed to their duo of cornerbacks that won them the Super Bowl in 2020, with Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean. But with Davis being traded to Detroit this offseason, it was Dean who would be trusted and relied on as the team’s top CB, and through the full five games he was able to play, he did a serviceable job considering his upgraded responsibility.
Always a willing tackler, Dean posted two ten-tackle performances and a nine-tackle performance in Atlanta. Against the Falcons, it was the beginning of the down trend of this defense, and also the last full game before Dean was injured and placed on IR for four games. In this Thursday Night game, Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins had over 500 yards passing and two of his receivers had over 100 yards and a touchdown.
Dean was placed on IR following the week six game against the Saints, which ended in a hamstring injury for the Bucs’ top CB on a tackle he made in the first quarter. Following this week eleven bye, Jamel Dean would be eligible to return to this Tampa Bay defense that misses him badly. If all has gone well in his recovery, we should expect to see a fully healthy Dean for the final seven-game stretch of the season.
With the lack of depth this team has at the cornerback position, Dean will be directly inserted as the team’s top cornerback. Zyon McCollum did his best and has proved to everyone in his third season that he is an NFL-caliber corner here to stay. A healthy Bucs
SirVocea Dennis
Jason Licht and the Tampa Bay front office did, in fact, have a plan in the offseason to better their linebacking crew. Once they were able to secure the return of Lavonte David to the 2024 team, Todd Bowles knew he would have a situational rotation alongside the Bucs’ legendary LB, with young players in K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis.
Dennis is a high-speed linebacker who can be seen flying all over the field in the first couple Tampa Bay games. Recording a sack in the season’s first game against Washington, Dennis seemed to be in for a stellar season, as he made instant impact in his limited amount of snaps to kick off the year.
Although inexperienced and with a lot to prove, Dennis seemed to have a feel for playing in pass coverage alongside Lavonte David. Something that Britt has struggled with this season. With Dennis’ snap count increasing through the first few games, it seemed as if he was transitioning into a full-time role next to Lavonte David.
After the Bucs week three match up with Denver, Dennis would begin to miss practice and eventually ruled out of the team’s week five match-up against Atlanta. Following that game, the team placed him on IR and Todd Bowles eventually told the media that Dennis had shoulder surgery and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
Not a household name by any stretch, but Dennis is a young linebacker who has the tools to be a long-term option. The time and experience he is missing on the field alongside Lavonte David is crucial in his development, but hopefully he is still gaining experience as he recovers this season.
It’s not the first name that pops up when talking about most impactful injuries on this Bucs’ team because of Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jamel Dean, but this injury has left the Tampa Bay linebacking crew depleted and in need of Dennis’ services.
Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey & Tykee Smith
Yes, these injuries were early in the season and these guys are back and ‘healthy’ at this point. But the early-season gelling of both the secondary and the defensive line were at a halt when both of these key defenders missed time early on.
For Antoine Winfield, it was a week one foot/ankle injury late in the game that ended up keeping Winfield out four games- and it’s an injury that still may be lingering for the All-Pro safety. Still one of the league’s best and hitting ball carriers with impact, Winfield Jr. could be performing better overall since his return. But so could everybody on this Tampa Bay defense.
Rookie safety Tykee Smith has been thriving at the slot corner position in Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s tied for second in the league with three forced fumbles and has been all over in the field when he’s been active. Active in eight of the ten games this season, his absence in both missed games have been crucial.
Smith is in his first season and still can do a lot to improve, but so far through the season, he looks to be Tampa Bay’s best defender in coverage. The impact he has on this team may be slightly less than Winfield or Kancey, but he is almost to that level of importance to this team. Tykee is just another key Buccaneer who will use this bye week to their advantage.
A calf injury popped up on the injury report for Calijah Kancey prior to week one’s game vs. Washington, not only did it keep him out for the first game, but the stud defensive lineman missed the first five games of the 2024 season with his injury. The same injury that forced him to miss multiple games in 2023, it wasn’t a great sign to kick off the year.
But since Kancey’s return, you can see the impact he brings to the game, especially when the duo of Kancey and Vita Vea are present in the middle of the interior. When both are healthy, it’s a scary sight to see for opposing offenses.
Vea has also clearly been playing through a knee injury to kick off the season but still is one of the most forceful interior defensive lineman in football. During this bye week, expect for him and Kancey to fully rest and get their bodies ready for the final stretch.
And that goes for ALL Buccaneers players this week. At this point in the season, every player is battling some type of injury, minor or major. Week eleven will be a week where these Tampa Bay defenders are resting their bodies, in hopes that their best players are healthy and able to participate in this team’s final seven games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a historically bad season from a defensive standpoint. Highlighted by a 500-yard, franchise-record performance from Kirk Cousins and 41-points given up to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, this Tampa Bay team has not been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks or successfully cover opposing receivers. This Bucs defense ranks 31st in passing yards given up and 28th in points given up per game.
When you speak about injured players on the Buccaneers, most people look to the season-ending injury to Chris Godwin, or Mike Evans' hamstring in that Monday night game against Baltimore. But injuries have definitely played a role in this season’s lackluster defensive play, with key starters like Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey and others missing extended time already this season.
Surely the injury bug isn’t the only reason as to why they’re able to be picked on at such a high rate though. Everyone saw this defense sport encouraging performances against the Lions and Commanders early on in the season, the sudden drop off can be attributed to a number of things, but you won’t find many that are in agreement on the defensive issues so far in 2024.
Let's review some of the most impactful injuries to the Buccaneers defense so far in 2024:
Jamel Dean
The Bucs had grown accustomed to their duo of cornerbacks that won them the Super Bowl in 2020, with Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean. But with Davis being traded to Detroit this offseason, it was Dean who would be trusted and relied on as the team’s top CB, and through the full five games he was able to play, he did a serviceable job considering his upgraded responsibility.
Always a willing tackler, Dean posted two ten-tackle performances and a nine-tackle performance in Atlanta. Against the Falcons, it was the beginning of the down trend of this defense, and also the last full game before Dean was injured and placed on IR for four games. In this Thursday Night game, Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins had over 500 yards passing and two of his receivers had over 100 yards and a touchdown.
Dean was placed on IR following the week six game against the Saints, which ended in a hamstring injury for the Bucs’ top CB on a tackle he made in the first quarter. Following this week eleven bye, Jamel Dean would be eligible to return to this Tampa Bay defense that misses him badly. If all has gone well in his recovery, we should expect to see a fully healthy Dean for the final seven-game stretch of the season.
With the lack of depth this team has at the cornerback position, Dean will be directly inserted as the team’s top cornerback. Zyon McCollum did his best and has proved to everyone in his third season that he is an NFL-caliber corner here to stay. A healthy Bucs
SirVocea Dennis
Jason Licht and the Tampa Bay front office did, in fact, have a plan in the offseason to better their linebacking crew. Once they were able to secure the return of Lavonte David to the 2024 team, Todd Bowles knew he would have a situational rotation alongside the Bucs’ legendary LB, with young players in K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis.
Dennis is a high-speed linebacker who can be seen flying all over the field in the first couple Tampa Bay games. Recording a sack in the season’s first game against Washington, Dennis seemed to be in for a stellar season, as he made instant impact in his limited amount of snaps to kick off the year.
Although inexperienced and with a lot to prove, Dennis seemed to have a feel for playing in pass coverage alongside Lavonte David. Something that Britt has struggled with this season. With Dennis’ snap count increasing through the first few games, it seemed as if he was transitioning into a full-time role next to Lavonte David.
After the Bucs week three match up with Denver, Dennis would begin to miss practice and eventually ruled out of the team’s week five match-up against Atlanta. Following that game, the team placed him on IR and Todd Bowles eventually told the media that Dennis had shoulder surgery and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
Not a household name by any stretch, but Dennis is a young linebacker who has the tools to be a long-term option. The time and experience he is missing on the field alongside Lavonte David is crucial in his development, but hopefully he is still gaining experience as he recovers this season.
It’s not the first name that pops up when talking about most impactful injuries on this Bucs’ team because of Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jamel Dean, but this injury has left the Tampa Bay linebacking crew depleted and in need of Dennis’ services.
Antoine Winfield Jr., Calijah Kancey & Tykee Smith
Yes, these injuries were early in the season and these guys are back and ‘healthy’ at this point. But the early-season gelling of both the secondary and the defensive line were at a halt when both of these key defenders missed time early on.
For Antoine Winfield, it was a week one foot/ankle injury late in the game that ended up keeping Winfield out four games- and it’s an injury that still may be lingering for the All-Pro safety. Still one of the league’s best and hitting ball carriers with impact, Winfield Jr. could be performing better overall since his return. But so could everybody on this Tampa Bay defense.
Rookie safety Tykee Smith has been thriving at the slot corner position in Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s tied for second in the league with three forced fumbles and has been all over in the field when he’s been active. Active in eight of the ten games this season, his absence in both missed games have been crucial.
Smith is in his first season and still can do a lot to improve, but so far through the season, he looks to be Tampa Bay’s best defender in coverage. The impact he has on this team may be slightly less than Winfield or Kancey, but he is almost to that level of importance to this team. Tykee is just another key Buccaneer who will use this bye week to their advantage.
A calf injury popped up on the injury report for Calijah Kancey prior to week one’s game vs. Washington, not only did it keep him out for the first game, but the stud defensive lineman missed the first five games of the 2024 season with his injury. The same injury that forced him to miss multiple games in 2023, it wasn’t a great sign to kick off the year.
But since Kancey’s return, you can see the impact he brings to the game, especially when the duo of Kancey and Vita Vea are present in the middle of the interior. When both are healthy, it’s a scary sight to see for opposing offenses.
Vea has also clearly been playing through a knee injury to kick off the season but still is one of the most forceful interior defensive lineman in football. During this bye week, expect for him and Kancey to fully rest and get their bodies ready for the final stretch.
And that goes for ALL Buccaneers players this week. At this point in the season, every player is battling some type of injury, minor or major. Week eleven will be a week where these Tampa Bay defenders are resting their bodies, in hopes that their best players are healthy and able to participate in this team’s final seven games.
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