The Bucks have been doing well as the season has progressed. Tampa Bay practiced Saturday and the team faced the Chiefs on Monday night, but the final practice of the week also had a few surprises.
Bucks RB Bucky Irving – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
As soon as warmups began, starting left guard Ben Bredeson could be seen standing on the sideline wearing a Bucks hat and watching his teammates begin the game. What we didn’t see was inside safety Lavonte David at linebacker and Antoine Winfield Jr. at safety.
Towards the end of a practice session open to the media, David arrived wearing a helmet to show he was practicing today. Winfield came out shortly after, but he didn’t have a helmet. When the defensive backs started practicing, Winfield just watched them practice. Winfield was just added to the injury report on Friday.
Players missing the previous two days were Bucky Irving, Sterling Shepard and Greg Gaines. Gaines didn’t show up, but Irving and Shepard did. The Bucks discussed their plans that week with Irving injuring his toe, missing two practices and scheduled to practice a third. Shepherd has been dealing with a hamstring injury and was running at another field earlier this week. He was able to join everyone else on Saturday. Tykie Smith continues to practice and officially cleared concussion protocol Saturday morning.
Antwon Winfield Jr. didn’t practice. #Bucks. He came out at the last minute but didn’t play. Greg Gaines was nowhere to be seen, with Ben Bredeson standing to the side watching. not good.
Lavonte David was able to practice. So were Tykie Smith, Bucky Irving and Sterling Shepard. pic.twitter.com/IkmPVKkk9G
— Matt Matera (@matty4_matera) November 2, 2024
Todd Bowles on which Bucks will leave
Bucs FS Antwon Winfield Jr. and ILB Lavonte David – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
After practice, coach Todd Bowles told the media that three Bucs will be absent from Monday’s game. That will be wide receiver Mike Evans, as expected, defensive tackle Greg Gaines, and long snapper Evan Decker, who is returning from injured reserve. That means Winfield, David and Bredeson are all ready. Gaines was already sidelined the week before, so having the other trio available is a pleasant surprise.
Bowles said Winfield’s leg was “sore” but he was OK. He did not say whether it was the same foot that caused him to lose four games earlier in the season.
Bringing Smith back to play in the slot will be a huge help in the secondary with Smith and Winfield together. Tampa Bay has struggled defensively, but it’s hard to imagine what the group will be without Winfield, or what the linebackers will be like if David is sidelined.
It will be a tough battle for the Bucks to defeat the undefeated Chiefs. they are at least as healthy as ever It’s been a few weeks Let’s get into it.
