Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be topping the NFC South with a powerful 6-2 record but it has not come easy to achieve that especially on the offensive front. The loss of players has put the entire Todd Bowles team to the test throughout the season, and at the end of the bye week, he faces the New England Patriots. Nevertheless, there is some hope within the premises, owing to the possibility of having two key players back.
Chris Godwin is a wide receiver and Bucky Irving is a running back who might be nearing a return to the offense and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Todd Bowles provided positive news in addressing the developments of the two players as well as the linebacker, Haason Reddick, who has also been out.
They receive their treatment and work in the mornings, as Todd Bowles explained. Provided they can do more by returning out there we will have them do more. It’s possible. And tomorrow we shall tell.
Since Week 4, Irving has been experiencing foot and shoulder complications, which has kept him out of the last four games. Nevertheless, his contribution in the earlier season could not be overlooked despite the lost time. He ran 71 times in only four appearances and gained 237 yards in that time and Tampa Bay won three times in that period. His coming back would also provide the offense with the lift that it badly needed in the running game.
Chris Godwin on the other hand has missed three of his own games. The positive aspect of the situation is that neither he nor Irving is on an injured reserve, which indicates that there is hope that all the two players can be ready to play soon as opposed to later on. Nonetheless, the three players were not practicing on Wednesday, which indicates that the process of recovery is yet to be complete.
As they piled injuries, the Bucs had a roster move to deepen the depth. NFL source Rick Stroud says the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put Karsen Barnhart, an offensive line, on the practice squad and put tackle Tyler McLellan on the practice squad injured reserve list. The Michigan undrafted Barnhart has been shuffled across the league, having tried on with Chargers and Broncos before winding up in Tampa.
They might not be a headlining deal, but such depth moves can serve as a huge difference towards the end of the year- particularly to a group that is preparing to make a playoff run. And in case Godwin and Irving come back in the near future, Baker Mayfield will be able to employ an even more complete arsenal in the heat of the season.
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