September 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) in the first half at Raymond James Stadium hit Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) in the helmet during the game. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ruled out five players for Thursday night's NFC South game against the host Atlanta Falcons.
All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) and right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion), defensive tackle Calijah Kancey ) (calf) and wide receivers Jalen McMillan (hamstring) and Trey Palmer (concussion) will miss the game in the short term, the team confirmed Wednesday. 3-1) vs. Falcons (2-2).
“We know we have a game on Thursday,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said after Wednesday morning's practice. “I'm sure it's going to make it more difficult for the players who want to play and some of them can play if it's maybe Sunday. But we'll do it with everything we've got and we've been working hard with Everything we have, we've had people step up and they have to step up again.
Godeke was listed as a limited participant on Monday and Tuesday, while the other four did not practice.
Winfield, 26, and Godke, 25, started in the season-opening win over the Washington Commanders. Winfield finished with seven tackles and didn't miss a snap on either side of the line. They will miss their fourth straight game.
McMillan, a 22-year-old rookie, started the first three games but missed Sunday's 33-16 win over the host Philadelphia Eagles. He had three catches on six targets for 59 yards and one touchdown.
The 23-year-old Palmer has appeared in four games (one start) and has four catches on six targets for 45 yards and one touchdown.
Cancey, 23, started all 14 games for Tampa Bay as a rookie in 2023 and had 26 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. He has yet to play in a game this season.
Bowles said the Buccaneers also placed linebacker Sir Vosia Dennis (shoulder) on injured reserve. Dennis, 24, has 22 tackles, including one sack, in four games as a backup this season.
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