Smith (illness) will play Sunday against the Lions, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Smith was unable to practice Thursday or Friday, but he traveled with the team to Detroit and has made enough progress in his recovery to take the field Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Traveling to Detroit
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is traveling with the Buccaneers to Detroit, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Smith came down with an illness this week, which prevented him from practicing Thursday and Friday. He'll go through warmups before Sunday's game, but if he's unable to suit up, Tavierre Thomas would be the top candidate to slide into the nickel corner role. Smith registered two tackles while playing 40 snaps (38 on defense, two on special teams) in Week 1 against the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Deemed questionable for Week 2
Rotowire
Smith (illness) is not practicing Friday and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Smith operated as Tampa Bay's top slot cornerback Week 1, so it would be a notable loss for the secondary if he can't suit up versus Detroit. The Buccaneers are already down safety Antoine Winfield (foot), plus cornerbacks Josh Hayes (ankle) and Bryce Hall (ankle, IR) for Week 2.
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Buccaneers' Tykee Smith: Tampa Bay bound
Rotowire
The Buccaneers selected Smith in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 89th overall.
Smith took a circuitous route to draft night. After starring at West Virginia early in his career with All-American accolades, Smith transferred to Georgia, where he had a brutal stretch of injury luck. A foot injury kept him out to start 2021, and then he suffered a torn ACL. After playing a rotational role in 2022, Smith secured a starting job at nickel in 2023 and got himself back on the NFL radar. Physicality is the name of his game, as he got in on 70 tackles as a fifth-year senior and showed coverage chops with four picks. He tested well at the combine, and if the injury woes are truly behind him, Smith is an asset at nickel or safety.
