The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out two key starters for today’s game: defensive end Robert Ayers and wide receiver DeSean Jackson are among the team’s inactives, as is linebacker Devante Bond. All three struggled with injuries this week and were limited in practice, though they did participate.
In better news, wide receiver Chris Godwin has been cleared to play, so he’ll take Jackson’s place as a starting wide receiver. He’s done well the past few weeks, so we shouldn’t see a massive dropoff there. Ayers’ absence is a bigger issue: the Bucs have no competent edge rushers to replace him, which is going to present problems against Drew Brees.