Tampa Bay Buccaneers Down Four Huge Stars at Practice

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be in serious trouble ahead of their huge Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers observed during Thursday's practice that the team was without tackle Donovan Smith and wide receivers Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Julio Jones.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin we’re not at the portion of practice open to the media. No LT Donovan Smith. WR Russell Gage and RB Leonard Fournette were working. Tom Brady is also practicing.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) September 15, 2022

The news comes following an injury-riddled 19-3 win by the Bucs over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The Bucs were already short Smith and Godwin at Wednesday's practice, so the added absences of Jones and Evans leave the team outrageously shorthanded on the offensive side of the ball. Should Godwin, Evans, and Jones all be unavailable for Week 2, the Bucs will be forced to start some combination of Russell Gage, Breshad Perriman, Scott Miller, and Jaelon Darden on the outside.

The Bucs listed all five of their top receivers on Wednesday's injury report, so they're clearly hurting ahead of their pivotal Week 2 clash against the New Orleans Saints. They'll need all the help they can get considering they've lost seven straight against their NFC South rivals and were shut out 9-0 the last time they played. The Bucs will likely need a defense that dominated Dallas with four sacks and only 12 first downs allowed to replicate their Week 1 success if they want to stand a chance against the Jameis Winston-led Saints.