No More Whining About Injuries
November 12th, 2025
Mike Evans lays prone on the turf of Ford Field after his injury and concussion.
Joe’s done hearing anyone with the Bucs or outside of One Buc Palace whine about all the Bucs injuries.
You may have read Joe address this issue on Monday.
Last weekend offenses with less talent on the field of play than the Bucs cobbled together points and won games.
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missing so many games, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has had enough time to craft an offense with other players.
Baker Mayfield said after Sunday’s loss that guys who are playing should be aware of responsibilities and goals each week.
“We have had so many new guys in there; we are used to it by now,” Mayfield said. “Everybody knows what we are trying to get done, we communicate that very well throughout the week.
“[We] felt really good about the game plan coming into it and I am sure everybody would say the same thing.”
Look at the NFL scoreboard from last weekend and the bad teams that scored 20 or more points. (The Bucs scored 23.)
Think those teams have better talent on offense than the Bucs did on Sunday?
Mayfield also did what leaders do. He noted he’s been off on some throws and that hasn’t helped the offense.
The Dolphins have had injuries to key players. They put up points Sunday and beat the mighty Bills. The Jets have Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall and that’s about it. They put up points and won without the benefit of a turnover.
It can be done with the help of coaching and a schemed up offense to get guys open and exploit holes for running backs to expose.
Adapt, adjust, overcome.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:24 am
Joe the bills just like the bucs came out flat. That rxplosive bills offense didnt show vs the dolphins. And if we are expecting the bucs to do what the dolphina did….. IN BUFFALO we are in for a rude awakening. The bills can beat teams like the chiefs and ravens, and then lose to teams like the falcons and dolphins.
Its a week to week league. Tampa is missing Star players. Miami is missing one guy, tyreek hill, who was doing nothing before he got injured
November 12th, 2025 at 5:38 am
Wow! I wonder who made all the $ on the dolphins game? I wonder what the odds were?
November 12th, 2025 at 5:39 am
Talk about money all!! Geez!!
November 12th, 2025 at 5:51 am
The Bills DEFENSE isn’t exactly mighty. Quite the opposite really. In fact their defense is pretty poor. The Dolphins also still have two players that are far, farrrrrr more explosive than anyone on Tampas offense in Waddle and Achane. Are we going to bust out a 60 yard run next week? The Bucs at their present state are pretty mid tier talent wise and while we want our first yr play caller to be a combination of Bill Walsh, and Andy Reid he’s cooking with some pretty generic ingredients and we’ve also become spoiled thinking everyone we hire is gnna be Canales and Liam Coen right out of the gate. Yes – Grizzard should take some ownership of designing and calling better plays but there are varying things that need to be worked through. As an aside, why are we so fascinated with slot receivers. Even McVay himself has a couple of stud X Receivers. Would be nice to have a real outside guy or 2.
November 12th, 2025 at 5:58 am
Joe, the Bucs big money players on this team need to start earning their keep. Watched Wirfs get abused again by rushers blowing right past him and with no time l left on the clock the Patriots went right after Winfield and scored.
There needs to be call outs on these highly paid players. At their positions they are some of the highest players in the league, so they need to play like it I am sure there are others also
November 12th, 2025 at 6:29 am
As I said in a post a couple of days ago, we don’t have to worry about losing our OC to a head coaching job next year.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:47 am
The defense is relatively healthy and we have a defensive guru HC according to some. Seems to me that Bakerfan is right. Bowles’ product he put on the field Sunday was putrid. Our star players ain’t gettin it done. Everybody knows the offense is winging it with what they have left to work with. QB1 definitely hurt.
No RG1 out for the year. No LG1 now. Just got back RT1 after 6 or 7 weeks. No RB1 going on 7 weeks. No WR1 for months. No WR2 virtually the entire season.. No WR4 virtually the entire season. The reality is we have an offense that is simply decimated with long term injuries to more than a half a dozen stars. So we have to lean on Bowles’ defense to keep us in games. LOL. This team is trending down whether you like it or not. Does anybody think Todd’s defense is going to save the day against Buffalo and LA? Yeah let’s hold our breath for that one. Injuries and incompetence combined to destroy what could of been this year. Sure we may win the South. I’ll make sure you all nice tee shirts for that.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:52 am
Grizzard probably deserves some blame, but Baker wanted to play hero ball instead of hitting the open man. He constantly targeted Christian Gonzalez instead of attacking the better matchups. I don’t believe in any world that the gameplay going in was to test Gonzalez all game long.
This is where Coen was every good last year. He was able to exploit matches and use guys like Devin Culp and Payne Durham.
We’re witnessing Bad Baker the last couple weeks. The MVP talk got to him and now he’s pressing.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:54 am
I really think Mike and Bucky being out right now are the biggest hurdles we have getting through week to week. Immensely missed on the field. Hate to say it, but I think because Grizz was with the Bucs last season and has had time to adjust, I agree with Joe.
PSL, never say never. An article Joe shared on another post names coaches in the hot seat. Grizz could still be in the running for a HC job by the end of the season. Not for us, but possibly the Falcons or Miami.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:54 am
We had two rookie receivers step up for three TDs. Rewatching the game I’ll tell you what doomed us. Early on when we were up 7-0, Baker missed a couple of plays that would’ve at leat extended drives, and maybe lead to points. The plays were there. Than it was the defenses turn. They really weren’t all bad, but the four explosive plays, three of them TDs, were too much to overcome. Blame to Bowles for that. Morrison’s long TD, and penalty on third down were back breakers, it was not a good idea giving him reps at that stage of the game.. McDanials pounced on that, Bad coaching.
November 12th, 2025 at 6:55 am
did u watch the bills game? they fumbled everywhere… that wasnt the real bills…
go back and watch our 1st 3 games when we had bucky, ME13 and Cody it was a different team- you can say no excuses but the injuries have finally caught up and
the most on the O-line
November 12th, 2025 at 6:57 am
in those 1st 3 games EE was wide open bc they doubled Mike
now they double EE
November 12th, 2025 at 7:00 am
What teams with injuries is missing their RB1 and WR1 WR2 WR3 and 2 OL …We are lucky EE and Tez have stepped up but they are making mistakes in routes often…I am more concerned with the D not playing consistent.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:03 am
JBFers aren’t ‘Whining About Injuries’ Joe; everyone seems to be pretty realistic about the IMPACT of multiple injuries to star performers on win-loss probabilities.
Our offense is in shambles, and to believe that depth players like Josh Williams, Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson, Charlie Heck, Michael Jordan are gonna have the same or better productivity than Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Luke Goedeke or Cody Mauch is fantasy. Throw in an obviously less-than-100% Baker Mayfield and you’re bound to lose production.
And that’s why our defense has to be stepping up a LOT more in this second half of the season. It’s relatively healthy (except for Kancey & Reddick now), but Roberts is playing very well IMO & our remaining OLBs are holding their own. But they’re not playing well as a single unit, and periodic mistakes on explosive plays by just 1 or 2 guys are costing us dearly. DEFENSE HAS TO RISE UP!
November 12th, 2025 at 7:20 am
Can’t expect much consistency with the oline getting btch slapped on every passing down. It’s pathetic. How many times do we have to watch our center Barton try to defend a pass rush lying flat on his back? Find me an OC with consistent success and a bunch of softies up front. Never existed
November 12th, 2025 at 7:23 am
That OPI on Shepard at the end of the game was lethal.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:23 am
I know this is a real photo but I don’t like having to see it.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Licht failed to acquire proper depth and chose not to address the depth issues the last few months prior to the trade deadline. This is a direct result of his outsized ego inflating his perception of positional depth and his own draft prowess. The result is what we witnessed Sunday. You people need to stop gassing up Licht. He failed this team and it’s fanbase.
November 12th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Not fair to be compared to the jets…Wilson got injured this past weekend and most of their points came of kr and pr…not offense lol
November 12th, 2025 at 7:47 am
no excuses!!!!
offense has to step up!!!!…like baker said: they’re use to new bodies coming and going…
Grizz has to commit to running the ball….
defense shouldnt be expected to hold every team to 10 or fewer points…offense has to put up points…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 12th, 2025 at 7:57 am
Let’s start with us the fans. It looked like a pats home game on our side of the field. We fans made zero impact on any play. Not good attendance no noise. Several pats fans felt comfortable taunting us in our house. We suck.The rest is what Todd said. Poor coaching all around and poor play in all the phases. Baker agreed and said the Bucs should be angry with themselves for such a poor performance. They just looked flat and we were no help.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Totally agree, Raging. I wrote about that multiple times. They will finish 9-8 and if that gets them into the playoffs, they’ll be gone after the Wild Card game. It’s on the GM for hiring an OC that has ZERO experience. The NFL is not the place for someone who has never coached on any level. The GM is responsible for the construction of the team, including backups. The disparity between starters and backups is staggering. Draft well, that’s your job. Getting the team help at the ONLY moment during the season is also your job. The fanbase knows nothing about if there was any effort to bring in a receiver or a competent Olineman. So, yes, the GM should be held accountable as much as the HC.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:04 am
This is the most consequential game of the season for both teams.
This is it Bucs. Win or fade. You either want this or you don’t.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Jets scored 14 on a kick return and a punt return so their O was not lighting up the Browns but I get Joe’s point. Why do the Bucs fall flat in a big game coming off a bye. Also, every other team in the NFL can play and score points with injuries, Tampa put up 23 but this loss was on the explosive plays and that one last play in the 2nd quarter along with the Pats schooling Bowles’ D on the opening drive of the third quarter. . I am beginning to think that the Bucs are not expecting many players back from injury which is why Licht did not trade off draft picks as any acquired players would not help make the Bucs a true contender. The Bucs are not going to announce the season is over so instead they act vague and mysterious because they either know the window this year has closed or they are as clueless as us fans are about when Reddick, Godwin, Bucky and company will be coming back. Evans might play a game or 2 and JMac might be out of football alltogether with a broken neck, not just this season. Bowles should own putting the kid in a situation which led to his injury. Teddy B should have been throwing passes to training camp scrubs, not starting wideouts.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:06 am
And for all of the keyboard GMs whining about no trades, show us one trade that was possible that Licht did not make.
Not your little fantasy trade where you think the Browns would have taken a 6th round pick and a bushel of wheat for Myles Garrett.
An actual player.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Yes the bucs offense is worse than the dolphin offense less injuries to star players even with them being disfunctional. Just cuz you don’t want to hear the cry about injuries doesn’t erase the impact or cancel it out with you crying about it joe.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:12 am
How about injuries just STOP instead? That would be great and we could have the players on the field the team is paying for to be there.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Bucsarg, some NFL teams combatted that issue by warning season ticket holders that they could lose their tickets if they sell out seats in a majority of the games to opposing fans. In the NHL, the Lightning limited season ticket holders resale of playoff tickets to Florida residents, do not know if that would work for the Bucs though. Opposing fans would just buy their tickets from a scalper who is a FL resident then and pay some extra coin for the mark-up. Not just a Tamp problem, it also happens in Miami, Jacksonville, the ATL, Carolina, Arizona, LA, Seattle and Vegas. Lots of transplants in all these cities.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:19 am
StPeteMatt, if the injuries the Bucs have had concerning hamstrings and muscle pulls were preventable and have been caused by the negligence of the conditioning and training staff, the Bucs will quietly replace them without any public announcement. Maybe the Joes would find out if a trainer or conditioning consultant got launched but it would not be front page news.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Bucsarg – Agreed. Unfortunately, many of them live right here. Even if they have lived here for years, they keep cheering for the team they no longer live near. The costs too. Hard for two or more people including families to purchase the tickets, parking, …
FortMyersDave – Agree too. There is a huge problem with the ticket sales guidelines. It should be like Lightning, FL residents only.
November 12th, 2025 at 8:35 am
All the Bucs gotta do is win the 4 remaining divison games. That’ll win the South and then, if we sacrifice a chicken, maybe we get Bucky, Mike, Chris and JMac back for the WildCard round. And if we get sent packing in the 1st round, we blow up the coaching staff.