Todd Bowles Lists Four Bucs Players Who Will Not Play Against Atlanta
September 5th, 2025
Who’s out Sunday?
When Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke with the pen and mic club after practice today, he mentioned four players who will not suit up in Atlanta on Sunday to open the season.
We know about Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs. Those two are no-brainers. However, two defensive backs will be out as well.
Safety Christian Izien is dealing with an oblique injury. He will not play. And apparently, rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison is still hampered by a hamstring injury, though the Bucs are listing it as a quad injury. But Morrison’s absence may have more to do with missing so much practice and preseason than his bum hamstring.
Bowles mentioned this week that Morrison missing so much time has put him behind the eight ball in mental preparation.
As for Vita Vea and his foot injury, it seems like more than a few Bucs players may need to invest in new mattresses. Vea, Bowles said, woke up with a bum foot recently one morning and has been “sore” since.
Joe’s heard Bowles mention mysterious injuries before, those as the result of players waking up hurt. Maybe if Team Glazer can get a mattress company to join forces with the team on a marketing deal — mattress stores seem to be in every strip mall — the Bucs could swing a deal for players to get new beds at cost.
Maybe that will then prevent these wake-up-one-morning-and-be-hurt injuries.
Per NFL.com, for the Dixie Chicks, offensive lineman Jack Nelson (calf) and safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) are out. Receiver Darnell Mooney is questionable with a bad shoulder.
September 5th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Go Bucs!
2 MORE days!
September 5th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
I get he’s talented but why draft an injury prone corner to eventually take the job of another injury prone corner? Idk I hope I’m wrong and obviously Licht is a fantastic GM but Morrison is off to a rough start.
September 5th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
McCollum with a 4yr 48 million contract 35 million guaranteed
September 5th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
This Atlanta game will be HUUUGE for the Bucs’ defense because it’ll set the tone for the season. Four positions have new starters: Safety (Tykee), MLB (SVD), OLB (Reddick) & Nickel (Parrish). And two of those new starters missed a number of games: Tykee Smith (-4) & SVD (-13). Three other starters missed at least 5 games last season: Winfield (-8), Kancey (-5) & Dean (-5).
The big question in my mind now is ‘Will this 2025 defense be significantly better than last year’s defense?’ We look like wwe’ve got better depth at most defensive positions, but the biggest key will still be staying healthy. Nobody ever won diddly sitting in the tub.
September 5th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
He originally had hip surgery in High School knowing he would likely need another surgery in College to finally heal his condition.
He was told this would be behind him so let’s calm down before all the naysayers blow this up to be bigger than what the Doctors actually diagnosed.
Chill out and get excited about a potential future pro bowler.
September 5th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
At age 29 and a half (or so), my feet hurt every morning for about my first 50 steps. So I get it. Of course I’m only carrying a little more than half of Vea’s weight so what is my excuse?
September 5th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Behind on mental preparation means lots of zone coverage. Just out our corners on a guy and tell them to cover for a change.
I wont be surprised if atl makes it 3 in a row
September 5th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Wisco, both Morrison & Dean would’ve been first round picks if not for those injuries. And Morrison’s injuries were mostly from congenital bad hips that have since been fixed (but maybe his body is still getting used to).
September 5th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
When Morrison wasn’t practicing Bowles said he was taking mental reps so he shouldn’t fall behind. So now he’s behind mentally? I don’t believe a word Bowles says about injured players.
September 5th, 2025 at 4:48 pm
mental and physical go hand in hand with growth so no surprise here. Nothing to see folks, move along
September 5th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
To all saying gout, sore(if true) ain’t gout. Gout is waves of having a hot kni fe twisted in your joint. Over and over, 5 minutes at a time.
September 5th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
I vote for drafting healthy college football players to play for my favorite NFL team.
September 5th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
I’m going to go on a limb I guess Vita’s mattress is more expensive than some people’s vehicles. Just based on the size of the man, he’s getting something specially made.
September 5th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
By all means, please make mattresses more affordable for our millionaire players.
September 5th, 2025 at 9:01 pm
Would someone please tell me if it is a hip, a quad, or a hamstring. Or is it just an NHL ‘lower body injury”? Maybe he’s just underperforming at a level they can’t expose by putting him on the field. Either way, it’s not an encouraging development. Perhaps Zion’s re-signing has more to do with Morrison’s situation than with Dean’s.
September 6th, 2025 at 1:05 am
Some fans are worried about Vita’s “want to. “
September 6th, 2025 at 5:37 am
A top of the line visco elastic memory foam mattress with an adjustable base in the california king size is about 6000$ and has very positive therapeutic effects, believe me-I have one.
September 6th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Hopefully Mike Lindell wants to supply some matrasses, although he’s a Vikings fan.