Dean (hamstring) will not return Sunday against the Saints.
Dean had one solo tackle before exiting. His absence will be a blow to Tampa Bay's secondary for the remainder of the matchup, but it'll also be an opportunity for Tyrek Funderburk, who made the Buccaneers' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Making season debut
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Kancey (calf) is active Sunday against the Saints.
Kancey will make his season debut in Week 6 after tending to his calf injury suffered during Week 1 prep. The return of the Buccaneers' 2023 first-round selection should be a major boost to their defensive front in New Orleans on Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Jordan Whitehead: Active in Week 6
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Whitehead (groin) is active for Sunday's game in New Orleans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
After making an exit in the second half of a Week 5 loss to the Falcons on Thursday Night Football, Whitehead opened Week 6 prep with back-to-back limited practices, but he returned to full participation Friday and went into the weekend listed as questionable. With 10 days between games to get healthy, he'll be out there Sunday in his typical role as the Bucs' starting strong safety, welcoming back free safety Antoine Winfield (foot) for the first time since Week 1. Whitehead has been productive with 36 tackles (24 solo) and three pass defenses through five outings this season.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Back in action in Week 6
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Winfield (foot) is listed as active Sunday in New Orleans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Winfield has been sidelined since Week 1 due to a sprained foot, but after managing limited sessions Wednesday through Friday and entering the weekend as questionable, he'll be back in the lineup along with fellow starting safety Jordan Whitehead (groin). In 60 career regular-season contests, Winfield has averaged 6.5 tackles per game, tallied 15.0 sacks and recorded seven interceptions, making him an IDP stalwart in the Buccaneers defense.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Questionable, but set for 2024 debut
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Kancey (calf) is listed as questionable but is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though he's taking an injury designation into Sunday, Kancey never looked to be at much risk of missing the contest after turning in full practices Wednesday through Friday. The second-year defensive tackle will be officially cleared when Tampa Bay releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Kancey had missed the Buccaneers' first five games of the season due to the calf injury, which he suffered while practicing leading up to Week 1.
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Buccaneers' Jordan Whitehead: On track to play Week 6
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Whitehead (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, but he's considered likely to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though he's carrying a designation into Sunday, Whitehead looks on track to suit up after he was a limited participant in practices Wednesday and Thursday before turning in a full session Friday. Tampa Bay should have both its starting safeties available for the first time since Week 1, as Antoine Winfield (foot) is listed as questionable but is also expected to play after missing the previous four games. Whitehead has tallied 36 tackles and three pass breakups through the first five weeks of the campaign.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Expected to return in Week 6
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Winfield (foot) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday versus New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Winfield hasn't played since Week 1, as a sprained foot has kept him out of action the past four weeks. However, the talented safety appears set to return Sunday following a trio of limited practices during Week 6 prep. Winfield and the Buccaneers will be facing off against Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, who is being called upon for his first NFL action due to usual starter Derek Carr being sidelined with an oblique injury.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Could play in Week 6
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Winfield (foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Winfield hasn't played since sustaining a foot injury in the Buccaneers' Week 1 win over the Commanders. However, he's got a chance to return Sunday after a week of limited practice sessions. If Winfield isn't able to make his return in Week 6, expect Kaevon Merriweather to serve as Tampa Bay's top strong safety.
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Buccaneers' Christian Izien: Won't play Sunday
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Izien (elbow) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Izien didn't practice all week after likely sustaining an elbow injury in the Buccaneers' Week 5 loss to the Falcons, so it's no surprise he won't suit up in Week 6. With Izien ruled out and both Antoine Winfield (foot) and Jordan Whitehead (groin) listed as questionable for Sunday's contest, Kaevon Merriweather is currently the only safety on the Bucs' active roster without an injury designation.
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Buccaneers' Calijah Kancey: Full participant in practice
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Kancey (calf) was a full participant in Tampa Bay's practice Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.
Kancey is now on track to make his season debut Sunday versus the Saints after missing the first five games due to a calf injury. The 23-year-old will likely start on the defensive line alongside Vita Vea and Logan Hall in the upcoming matchup.
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Buccaneers' Christian Izien: DNP to open week
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Izien (elbow) did not participate in Wednesday's practice session.
Izien registered seven tackles (five solo) during the Bucs' Week 5 loss to the Falcons, but it appears he may have picked up an elbow injury in the process. He'll have two more chances this week to practice in at least a limited capacity ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints. Izien has recorded 30 tackles (20 solo), three passes defended (one interception) and one forced fumble through the first five games of the regular season.
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Buccaneers' Jordan Whitehead: Still nursing groin injury
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Whitehead (groin) was listed as a limited participant on the Buccaneers' injury report Wednesday.
Whitehead suffered a groin injury in Week 4 against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football. His practice participation Thursday and Friday will provide clarity on his status heading into Sunday's game against the Saints. Through the first five games of the regular season, Whitehead has accumulated 36 tackles (24 solo) and three passes defended.
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Buccaneers' Antoine Winfield: Returns to practice Wednesdy
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Winfield (foot) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice session.
Prior to Wednesday's session, Winfield hadn't participated in practice or played in a game since Week 1 against the Commanders due to a foot injury. It's a step in the right direction for the 2020 second-round pick, but Winfield will need to continue to see the field this week if he wants to return for Sunday's NFC South clash against the Steelers.
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Buccaneers' Earnest Brown: Practice window opens
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The Buccaneers announced Wednesday that Jones (ribs) has been designated to return to practice from injured reserve, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Brown now kicks off his 21-day practice window, within which he can be activated to the 53-man roster at any time. Once fully cleared, the fourth-year pro is expected to handle a depth role on defense for Tampa Bay.
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Buccaneers' Logan Hall: Records pair of sacks on TNF
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Hall totaled two tackles, both of which were sacks, in Thursday's overtime loss to the Falcons.
Hall was very disruptive in the contest, as he registered five QB hits, including the 2.0 sacks. The third-year pro is up to 3.0 sacks on the campaign, which is already a career-high mark. In fact, Hall's season total is equal to the amount of sacks he posted over the first 33 games of his NFL career.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Paces Bucs with 11 stops in loss
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Smith registered 11 tackles (nine solo) along with a forced fumble and a defensed pass Thursday in an overtime loss to the Falcons.
Smith was evaluated for a concussion in the second quarter but wasn't out long, as he returned to the game before halftime. The rookie cornerback finished with a career-high 11 stops after recording just one tackle against Philadelphia in his previous game. Smith logged 99 percent of the Buccaneers' defensive snaps Thursday and has become a fixture in the team's secondary.
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Buccaneers' Lavonte David: Picks off pass Thursday
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David recorded eight tackles (six solo) and intercepted a pass in Thursday's overtime loss to Atlanta.
David came up with a big interception with just under two minutes remaining in the contest to put Tampa Bay in a good position for a victory, but the team's offense couldn't pick up a first down, and the Falcons were able to kick a game-tying field goal as time expired to send the contest into an extra period. The pickoff was the 13th of David's career but his first since the 2020 campaign. Through five weeks, the veteran linebacker has recorded 37 tackles (23 solo), including 2.0 sacks, while forcing two fumbles and registering three pass defenses.
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Buccaneers' SirVocea Dennis: To be evaluated week-to-week
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Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Friday that Allen (shoulder), who was placed on IR on Tuesday, will have his status evaluated week-to-week, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Dennis' placement on IR rules him out until at least Week 9, making his earliest possible return date Nov. 4 versus the Chiefs, but it sounds like the severity of the second-year pro's injury could require him to remain sidelined longer. Allen also said that Dennis dealt with a shoulder injury during summer practices and was "touch-and-go." K.J. Britt played 94 percent of defensive snaps during Thursday's loss to the Falcons with Dennis sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Jordan Whitehead: Questionable to return
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Whitehead (groin) is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The safety recorded five tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed before leaving the game. Whitehead had 31 tackles (20 solo) and two passes defensed in Tampa Bay's first four games. Kaevon Merriweather is the next man up on the depth chart.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Returns to game Thursday
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Smith (head) has returned to Thursday's game against the Falcons, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Smith was evaluated for a concussion midway through the second quarter and was initially deemed questionable to return. The cornerback was subsequently cleared and re-entered the contest prior to halftime. Smith had a productive first half, tallying seven tackles (six solo).
