The injury report going into the Saints game does not look as dire as previous weeks for the Buccaneers. As expected, the team will have to do without the following:
DE Larry English (#57) – Hamstring injury – Out
WR Mike Evans (#13) – Groin injury – Out
S Dashon Goldson (#38) – Ankle injury – Out
CB Johnthan Banks (#27), who did not practice Thursday and was reportedly dismissed from practice for non-injury related reasons, is probable for today’s game.
The rest of the players on the injury report are listed as questionable, with some of them being less questionable to play in reality than others.
S Mark Barron (#23) – Abdominal injury – Questionable
LB Mason Foster (#59) – Shoulder injury – Questionable
DE Michael Johnson (#90) – Ankle injury – Questionable
QB Josh McCown (#12) – Thumb injury – Questionable
DT Gerald McCoy (#93) – Hand injury – Questionable
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (#87) – Ankle injury – Questionable
Barron, Foster and McCoy were limited in practice all week. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting Foster will not play this week. Johnson, McCown and Seferian-Jenkins did not participate all week. QB Mike Glennon (#8) is expected to start this week in McCown’s place, the Times reports, although the team has not made an official announcement. Both Johnson and Seferian-Jenkins played in last week’s game and had good performances.
The Times is reporting that those designated as Out, Foster and McCown should be the extent of absent Buccaneers this week.
The Saints injury list is just as long, but they are only expecting to lose three players for this week’s matchup:
S Jairus Byrd (#) – Knee injury – Out RB Mark Ingram (#) – Hand injury – Out FB Erik Lorig (#) – Ankle injury – Out
The remainder of the players on their injury report are expected to play.
LB David Hawthorne (#57) – Ankle injury – Probable
LB Curtis Lofton (#50) – Shoulder injury – Probable
CB Patrick Robinson (#21) – Thigh injury – Probable
TE Benjamin Watson (#82) – Groin injury – Probable
T Terron Armstead (#77) – Concussion – Probable
S Marcus Ball (#36) – Hamstring injury – Probable
C Jonathan Goodwin (#55) – Neck injury – Probable
CB Corey White (#24) – Foot injury – Probable
Most of these players are on the defense, with the exception of two from the offensive line. The inside linebackers it appears are banged up, as are the secondary. The Saints lost Byrd for the season. Ball is a second-string safety coming off a hamstring injury. CBs White, a starter, and his backup Robinson are both listed on this report. Time will tell if these injuries will effect the team on gameday.