TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without at least three starters on Sunday at the Detroit Lions. Coach Todd Boles ruled out defensive tackle and 2023 first-round draft pick Kalijah Canci, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., right tackle Luke Godek and reserve cornerback Josh Hayes on Friday.
Starting cornerback Zion McCollum, who suffered a concussion in last week’s season-opening game, still has to clear concussion protocol but has practiced all week. The Vols said he and starting defensive end Logan Hall (who missed last week’s game with a foot injury) are questionable.
“Zyon has a few tests to pass. We’ll see how Logan feels tomorrow,” Bowles said. “I feel good. [McCollum]. He’s working hard. You have to pass the exam, and I’m not taking the exam. So, let’s watch.”
The earliest McCollum could clear the protocol and still play would be Saturday.
Meanwhile, starting nickelback Tyke Smith missed practice Thursday and Friday with a sore throat.
“He’s sick right now,” Boles said. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Cansey suffered a left calf injury on Sept. 6. Winfield sprained his right foot and ankle in Sunday’s win over the Commanders, Godek suffered a concussion and Hayes suffered an ankle injury.
Backup/swing tackle Justin Skule is expected to start in place of Goedeke, and reserve safety/nickelback Christian Izien, who started at outside cornerback late last week, is expected to start in place of Winfield. But if Smith is unavailable, Bowles said the team could move Izien to nickel with Kaevon Merriweather at safety or move veteran Tavierre Thomas to nickel.
“The players are the ones who made this team,” Boles said. “Everybody’s going to have a hard time at some point. It’s better now than it was mid-season. It’s better to bring in young guys and give some guys some experience that can help them later. So we’re going to take what we have.”
If McCollum can’t play, rookie Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted free agent from Appalachian State who was inactive last week, will get the start. The team also re-signed Keenan Isaac, who was most recently with the Carolina Panthers after being released by the Bucs after the third preseason game. Bowles said he’s “very confident” in both.
“They know the system,” Boles said. “They’ve been through all the training camps and everything. So I’m confident they’ll make the calls and do what they need to do.”
The Lions beat the Bucks twice last year, including a 31-23 win in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.
