Two Starters Couldn’t Practice
November 5th, 2026
Did not practice.
The Bucs had two key starters, one on offense and one on defense, who did not take part in practice on Wednesday.
Neither was a huge surprise.
Outside linebacker YaYa Diaby, who sprained an MCL last week in the bludgeoning of the Dixie Chicks, did not practice. That wasn’t a surprise.
What was a surprise for Joe is that KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles didn’t seem quick to declare YaYa out for the Bears game in Chicago on Sunday night.
Reports leaking out of One Buc Palace this week suggested that YaYa could miss a few weeks. Bowles wouldn’t go there. Joe isn’t sure what to make of that, other than YaYa has not yet been placed on injured reserve, which would force him to miss at least four games.
Another not-so-surprising absentee from practice yesterday was Emeka Egbuka. The second-year receiver missed the past two games battling both a concussion and a foot injury.
It seems Egbuka, who leads the Bucs in percentage of targets in the pass game, has cleared concussion protocol and is now hampered by a bum foot.
Also sitting of practice was defensive tackle Elijah Roberts. He had an excused personal absence.
November 5th, 2026 at 12:18 am
fast forwarding a bit with this comment…
ravens traded with arizona for jacoby brisset…
so in about 5 weeks, when we go to baltimore, he will be their starting quarterback…
just a fast forward heads up
November 5th, 2026 at 12:20 am
Just saw a lip of bowels mic’d up. What screams through the short clip is that his players like him, and want to play well for him. He’s like the grandpa on the sidelines smiling at you when you played as a kid. You want to please him, for him to applaud and validate your effort. Just maybe, a good thing will happen to a good man and coach this year. Bowles is a man his players will want to call friend years after both are done in this profession. I hope the Bucs go on a run for him.
November 5th, 2026 at 1:36 am
Egbuka is really impressing with how he powered through his rookie year to finish strong, and then follow that up by improving in every category in 2026. What a player, what a great contributor to the Bucs offense.
November 5th, 2026 at 1:43 am
Egbuka is not a key starter sny more. He’s J.A.G.
Every other WR on our roster is better than Egbuka currently.
Sad, but true.
November 5th, 2026 at 1:45 am
I think we’re better off with Egbuka out tbh.
He takes/wastes valuable targets that could be more effective going elsewhere rather than to him.
November 5th, 2026 at 2:02 am
I know this is kinda crazy to say but after season we need to offer Baker 2 firsts and a second for Lamar Jackson. It would be nice to have a great qb for next 7ish years. I know he has been hurt a lot lately but he is exactly what we need to get offense humming. Keep hearing about him coming home to Florida and I think Tampa would be much better spot than Miami. This offense would be insane. And yes I know I sound insane lol
November 5th, 2026 at 2:26 am
that clip made me like Bowles more too- I can live with a dominant defense and a dominant run game. I actually prefer that brand of football. if thats his vision and it can work, im all for it. what i don’t like is the in game strategic blunders, clock blunders,etc. as a whole i like the hands off coaching approach, great for teaching and self motivation, kind of sink or swim. the nfl and Buc fans have no patience for this kind of coaching, maybe the Glazer Family does
I hope he turns it around, i like being a top defense and run game
November 5th, 2026 at 2:28 am
Ok, I guess Ted Hurst can drop a few more TD passes. How can you have a passing game with no one to throw to?
November 5th, 2026 at 4:59 am
CBS Sports :
“Our projection has the Buccaneers winning the NFC South at 8-9. The Bucs started the season 0-4, but our computer loves them after watching Tampa Bay destroy two division rivals — the Panthers and Falcons — in consecutive weeks.”
AI says that the Bucs need to go 5-4 … or 5-2 after the Lions .. beat the Chargers and Ravens then go 3-1 in the division .. sounds pretty achievable