New Orleans Saints - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report: Blount Doubtful, Foster Questionable, Black Probable

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a pretty length injury report for their upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. Most notably, three players are definitely not playing: DT Gerald McCoy, TE Luke Stocker and WR Sammie Stroughter are all listed as Out. McCoy and Stroughter being listed as such shouldn't be seen as a surprise, but McCoy's injury really hurts the Bucs defense. He may have been the best player on defense over the first five weeks. 

Luke Stocker's injury is a little more surprising. The tight end missed last week with a knee injury and missed a large part of the preseason with a hip injury. Without him, the Bucs really lack depth at tight end. This hurts the running game too, though not as much as Legarrette Blount's injury does. Blount is listed as Doubtful, but it seems very unlikely he'll play as he has not participated in practice at all this week. It was reported yesterday that he had suffered a Grade II MCL Sprain, which would certainly keep him out of Sunday's game. 

There is some good news, however. Quincy Black is listed as Probable, which means he will most likely play against the New Orleans Saints. Black is mostly a two-down linebacker at this point, and he should boost the Bucs' run defense. Similarly, Mason Foster is listed as Questionable and participated fully in today's practice. It seems likely that he will be on the field as well. Aqib Talib is also listed as Probable with a knee injury. Supposedly he was less than 100% against the 49ers.

In addition to those injuries, the Bucs listed LB Zac Diles as Questionable, and he had limited participation in today's practice. T James Lee participated fully and is listed as Probable. 

The New Orleans Saints only have three notable injuries: LB Will Herring, T Zach Strief and TE David Thomas are all out for Sunday's game. Strief was the starter for the first three games before being forced out with an injury. The Saints are now starting Charles Brown, who isn't horrible, but certainly beatable. David Thomas and Will Herring are both backups who have missed the last two games. 

Full injury reports:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Out: DT Gerald McCoy(ankle), TE Luke Stocker(knee), WR Sammie Stroughter(foot)

Doubtful: RB Legarrette Blount(knee)

Questionable: LB Mason Foster(ankle), LB Zac Diles(hamstring)

Probable: LB Quincy Black(ankle), T James Lee(knee), CB Aqib Talib(knee)

New Orleans Saints

Out: LB Will Herring(hamstring),T Zach Strief(knee), TE David Thomas(concussion)

Probable: TE John Gilmore(neck), WR Devery Henderson(calf), LB Martez Wilson(neck), LB Jonathan Vilma(knee)