The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released their final injury report on Friday, and they will continue to be missing the right half of their defensive line. Robert Ayers and Clinton McDonald were both ruled out for the game.
Additionally, Gerald McCoy is questionable with a calf injury. He was doubtful prior to the Bucs’ Week 6 bye, so he would seem to be getting closer to returning. He was listed as limited all three days, which leaves him looking like a true game-time decision. Head coach Dirk Koetter was asked about defensive end William Gholston, and he offered up this mention of McCoy:
“Will’s been really solid, especially the last two weeks. He’s played his two best games when we needed him the most. With [defensive linemen] Gerald [McCoy] and Robert [Ayers] down, they were joking – Will and [defensive tackle] Akeem Spence were – they [are] the vets now. Yeah, we need you to play like it and they did, so hats off to those guys, doing a good job.”
That doesn’t really give us much more information, so we’ll have to wait and see. But they’ll be missing two of the linemen, and will have seemingly at best McCoy at less than 100 percent.
The Bucs have listed cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah as questionable with a knee injury. He was not on the Wednesday practice participation report, but then was limited on Thursday and full on Friday. My guess is he will play, but it will be worth keeping an eye on him when inactives are announced. Koetter said on Friday, “Don’t read too much into that, Jude’s fine.”
Buccaneers final injury report
Out: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring)
Questionable: CB Jude Adjei-Barimah (knee), C Joe Hawley (knee), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
Friday practice participation report
DNP: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring)
Limited: DT Gerald McCoy (calf), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring)
Full: CB Jude Adjei-Barimah (knee), C Joe Hawley (knee), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
Thursday practice participation report
DNP: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring)
Limited: CB Jude Adjei-Barimah (knee), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring)
Full: C Joe Hawley (knee), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), TE Luke Stocker (ankle)
Wednesday practice participation report
DNP: DE Robert Ayers (ankle), RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring)
Limited: C Joe Hawley (knee), DT Gerald McCoy (calf), WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring)
Full: TE Luke Stocker (ankle)