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The Buccaneers got three players back from the Rederve/COVID list in Bradley Pinion, Ryan Succop, and Zach Triner but placed running back Ronald Jones on that list on Wednesday. Now, the Bucs see their starting left guard added to the Reserve/COVID list just two days ahead of their divisional match-up with the Atlanta Falcons.
Not exactly an ideal situation, but the Bucs will enter a must win in week fifteen with all other players ready to go. Jamel Dean - who missed the last two games with a concussion and groin injury - will be back on the field for the Buccaneers while also having no players with a “probable,” “questionable,” or “doubtful” designation.
The Atlanta Falcons, on the other hand, can not say the same. They will be without at least four players for Sunday including All-Pro receiver Julio Jones who will miss another game with that nagging hamstring issue. Also missing Sunday’s match-up is cornerback Darqueze Dennard with a quadriceps injury, safety Ricardo Allen with a concussion, and defensive tackle Marlon Davidson with a knee injury.
The Falcons also have guard James Carpenter listed as questionable with a groin injury and tackle Kaleb McGary listed as questionable with a personal matter that also caused him to miss last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The big question for the Buccaneers is what they will do in the absences of Ronald Jones and Donovan Smith. It’s safe to assume Leonard Fournette will get the bulk of the carries on Sunday with LeSean McCoy and Ke’Shawn Vaughn also gaining a few reps, but with Donovan Smith’s Reserve/COVID designation, you have to think that Josh Wells will come in in relief of the sixth year starter.
Donovan Smith has played all but 18 snaps this season, so his loss is a significant one for the Bucs. Most logical solution is to plus in Josh Wells at left tackle, as they did last year when he missed a game.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 18, 2020
The Bucs also elevated kicker Greg Joseph and offensive lineman Ted Larson to the active roster while signing long snapper Garrison Sanborn and punter Dunstin Colquitt to the practice squad.
Here is the full injury report for this Sunday’s game;
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The Buccaneers and Falcons will kickoff Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will air on FOX with Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston, and Pam Oliver on the coverage.