MINNEAPOLIS - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without three top names on defense Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Starting defensive tackle Chris Baker and defensive end Jacquies Smith did not make the trip to Minneapolis because of the flu, according to Bucs team officials.
Both players missed practice all week due to the bug, which has been going around the Bucs' locker room. They were originally listed as 'doubtful' on the final injury report Friday but were downgraded to 'out' Saturday.
"It's just one of those things, when you have a lot of guys in tight quarters and something contagious hits," head coach Dirk Koetter said Friday.