The Buccaneers’ ship has run aground after a 5-1 start. Tampa Bay is just 1-3 over the last month as it sails into Los Angeles battered, bruised and slightly ill, to take on the high-powered Rams. So when might reinforcements arrive?
A ravaged receiving corps is waiting on the return of Chris Godwin after he reinjured the fibula he fractured last season in Week 5 against the Seahawks. Two league sources say he is expected to return for “Sunday Night Football.”
Bucky Irving (shoulder), who hasn’t been featured since Week 4, will not play Sunday night, but the team is hopeful to have its lead back again in the near future, most likely next week. In the meantime, expect another heavy dose of Sean Tucker after his career-high three-touchdown day against the Bills.
Baker Mayfield was at the forefront of early MVP discussions, but an offense can only withstand so many absences. And while he isn’t using that as an excuse, Mayfield has also dealt with injuries himself. The hope is that the return of both offensive line protection and pass catchers can help him — and rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka — return to their sizzling early-season form.
Tampa Bay remains the NFC South favorite. And the team is expecting Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan to eventually come back and further boost an offense looking to make a deep January run. For now, Baker will return to the site of his career resurgence to try to deal a blow to L.A.’s hopes of a first-round bye.