Todd Bowles Offers Brief Updates On Injured Bucs
January 6th, 2025
Unlikely return this week.
UPDATED*: The Bucs have a few starters, key injured starters, that they have not written off for the season. Yet.
When Bucs coach Todd Bowles uses the term, “not at this time” while referencing injuries, that means that player showing up in the next game is probably off the table.
That appears to be the case for a key reserve linebacker and a Pro Bowl receiver.
Bowles was asked about SirVocea Dennis. The linebacker, who when he did play made an impact, blew up his shoulder against the Eagles in late September and hasn’t played since.
Bowles said Dennis is not available “at this time.”
Joe spoke with Dennis last week and he told Joe returning at some point in the playoffs was very much on the table. He didn’t have a timeline.
Then Bowles was asked if it was “impossible” for Chris Godwin to return. When he blew out his ankle against the Crows, there was feint hope Godwin might available in the postseason.
Bowles said of Godwin, “Not at this time.”
So Dennis and Godwin haven’t been ruled out but it sure sounds like a no-go for the playoff opener against Washington. Joe has said on the Ira Kaufman Podcast that Godwin is done for the entirety of the season.
*Bowles also said safety Jordan Whitehead (car accident) is not in play for Sunday. He seemed to leave Sunday’s door open a crack for Jamel Dean, Cade Otton and Antoine Winfield saying, “We’ll see” how they practice later in the week.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Would be great to get Winfield back. Hoping he can stay healthy and make is impact.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Would love to have Godwin back, but not worth rushing it either.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
We need someone in the back. McLauren will eat Hayes alive.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Last time I heard Chris speak (on Bucs total access)he wasn’t even thinking about rehab at the time. That was 6 weeks ago to the day. I haven’t heard anything since. Joe do you have any more insight on Chris??
January 6th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
We are doomed. LOL.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
Otton, Winfield and Dean on the field gives us a punchers chance in the playoffs.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Dennis had started good this season and he was really good at Detroit in week 2. Too bad we could not see him develop through the season.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
I haven’t payed close enough attention to TE blocking the last couple weeks but Otton seems to be least of our worries. Offense has still been humming and Culps hands have looked pretty good to me. Him and Durham are filling in admirably.
Not sure about this week but if we get past Wash, definitely gonna need Winfield Dean and Edwards out there for round 2. Hopefully they are close!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Yikes paid*
January 6th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Edwards just hurt his hammy going for an interception while all by himself in the open field.
Most un-athletic Bucs play of the season!!!!!!!
Now a Pro Bowl Level Winfield and Dean I agree.
Hayes struggled and that was against bottom tier receivers.
January 6th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Even if Dean plays he will get hurt. He is made of glass. Only players worth anything on this defense at this point is David, Vita, Kancy, Yaya and McCollum throw in Winfield when he is healthy. Rest of this defense needs to be let go and rebuilt.
January 6th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
edwards , per todd bowles only had “ cramps” should be fine, perhaps some midol will help him!😂
January 6th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Talk to Grant hill! Don’t do it Godwin don’t come back too early from that ankle injury it’s not worth it
January 6th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
need some help on D
January 6th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Joe, when did Dennis make an impact? He’s played less then a full since he’s been a Buc. Last time I saw him in a game he froze on the goal line allowing Nix to walk in for a TD. He’s never been anything, and never will, to fragile. He’s a 5th round pick who can’t stay healthy nothing more. Stop with the Dennis nonsense already. #BUST.
January 6th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Bucfans81
“Rest of this defense needs to be let go and rebuilt.”
While I agree with most of what you just posted I think at the end you threw the baby out with the bath water. I saw a lot of promise in Tykee Smith and Izien in particular. The one upside of all the injuries is that the Bucs were forced to evaluate young guys and young guys got a lot of snaps under genuine game pressure.
Desperate to replace DW45!!! Didn’t even come close. Perhaps Dennis would have helped but the Bucs are probably going to have to repeat what they did to get DW45, commit a relatively high first round pick. Desperate to find somebody who can suit up to replace Dean…outside of those two spots I think the Bucs have some options, especially given that there is ZERO need on offense.
How about special teams. With all the new kickoff rules and the rest it seems other than an occasional punt return special teams now revolve around the two kickers.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Wondering if SVD will be healthy by training camp
January 6th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
Hodad, I can’t agree with the opinion on Dennis. He was making plays. All the possible plays? No. He was coming around nicely, however, and definitely looked more effective than Britt for a couple games.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
This will be a very tough game for us. Washington has improved quite a bit since we last saw them.Since Bowles is a Defensive Specialist, he needs to spend some quality time with these guys before Sunday. IF..our Defense can play decent..a cut above 500, we have a shot. if not? Theres a tear in my Beer come Sunday.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
I read that Edward’s issue Sunday was cramping so I would think he’s be a go for Sunday. Hope Winfield and Dean can make it. In the words of Apollo Creed, “ there is no tomorrow.”
January 6th, 2025 at 9:45 pm
The Bucs D-line just needs to:
Pass rush in a pinching style format. The defense events cannot crash. The middle of the line or else. Daniels will roll out and run around them. That’s what he’s been doing to every defense he plays it seems like.
The defense needs to rush and unison and squeeze him in the pocket so he can’t run around anybody.
Add some blitzes as well to that concept, and I think the Bucs can win this game…
January 6th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Dennis coming back for the playoffs would be huge. Would love to see CG back just so he could get paid. As it stands he may get paid somewhere else and that would be tragic.
Get Shepard out and Miller in please. Geez! Palmer looked like he would rather be at the Mons. Whitehead is gone in the off season me thinks.
Go Bucs!
January 7th, 2025 at 12:28 am
“Faint” hope, not feint
January 7th, 2025 at 1:28 am
I wouldn’t say there is zero need on offence, but the defense is certainly in need of help all over.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:05 am
I love Hayes. I loved his uncle Geno Hayes.
Hayes is a dynamite gunner.
He did his best on Sunday. He played better in the second half.
He gave a valiant effort. And I love him.
But the Saints attacked him all game.
Washington will do the same.
It will be extremely difficult to make a Super Bowl run with Hayes starting.
I have always said you need 4 corners to win a super bowl.
We must start investing more draft picks into corners.
Dean is gone next year. Maybe we can bring Davis back.
And we need to draft a corner in the 1st.
LG in the 2nd. Wirfs deserves an elite LG next to him for the next 5 years of his contract.
ILB in the 3rd and 4th.
CB project/athlete in the 5th.
RB in the 6th.
CB athlete/project in the 7th.
Get 3 corners to develop next year.