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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without at least three starters Sunday at the Detroit Lions. Coach Todd Bowles ruled out defensive tackle and 2023 first-round draft pick Calijah Kancey, All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and right tackle Luke Goedeke Friday, in addition to reserve cornerback Josh Hayes.
Starting cornerback Zyon McCollum, who left last week’s season opener with a concussion, still has to clear the concussion protocol but has practiced all week. He, along with starting defensive end Logan Hall, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, are questionable, Bowles said.
“Zyon has some tests to pass. We’ll see how Logan feels tomorrow,” Bowles said. “I feel good about [McCollum] – he’s working hard, you’ve gotta pass the test, which, I’m not a part of, so we’ll see.
The latest McCollum could clear the protocol to still be eligible to play would be Saturday.
Starting nickelback Tykee Smith missed practice Thursday and Friday and is dealing with an illness.
“He’s ill right now,” Bowles said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Kancey injured his left calf last week on Friday. On Sunday vs. the Commanders, Winfield sprained his foot and ankle, Goedeke sustained a concussion, and Hayes hurt his ankle.
Backup/swing tackle Justin Skule will start in Goedeke’s place, while backup safety/nickelback Christian Izien — who stepped in last week at outside cornerback in the second half — is expected to start for Winfield. But if Smith can’t play, Bowles said the team could put him at nickel and have Kaevon Merriweather at safety, or have veteran Tavierre Thomas line up at nickel.
“Guys make this team for a reason,” Bowles said. “Everybody’s gonna go through their lumps at some point. Better now than midseason, give some young guys and give some other guys some experience that could help us later on so we’re gonna go with what we got.”
If McCollum can’t play, rookie Tyrek Funderburk, an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State who was inactive last week, would get the start. The team also re-signed Keenan Isaac, who was most recently with the Carolina Panthers after being cut by the Bucs following the third preseason game. Bowles said he was “extremely confident” in both.
“They know the system,” Bowles said. “They’ve been through all the training camp and everything. So I’m confident they’ll play the calls and do what they’re supposed to do.”
The Lions beat the Bucs twice last year, including a 31-23 defeat in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs.
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