This is how dire the injury situation has become for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Instead of holding a regular practice Wednesday, they were forced into a walkthrough.
“We probably had more people that couldn’t practice than could practice,” coach Todd Bowles said.
The NFC South-leading Buccaneers (3-1), coming off their first loss of the season, to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, will make a cross-country journey to face the Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday afternoon. Both teams are celebrating the 50th season since their expansion year in 1976 and will wear throwback uniforms.
On Friday, Tampa Bay ruled out five players, including some big hitters. Starting running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder), No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) and starting cornerback Jamel Dean (hip) will miss the game along with cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and safety Christian Izien (quad).
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee, biceps) missed practice Wednesday but was a full participant the rest of the week and was cleared to play. Other notables who were banged up included receiver Sterling Shepard (foot) and linebackers Lavonte David (knee) and Haason Reddick (neck).
In all, 15 players appeared on Tampa Bay’s injury report during the week.
“I mean, (we had a) good walk-through tempo,” Mayfield said. “But yeah, I think guys are aware, they got the message. They understand what we’re trying to get done. Especially in an environment that we’re going to be stepping into. So, it’s clear and concise and the guys get it.”
Mayfield rallied the Bucs to victories in each of the first three weeks of the season, but they couldn’t overcome a three-touchdown deficit against the Eagles in falling 31-25.
“You’re not going to beat the Super Bowl champs turning the ball over three times,” Bowles said, including a blocked punt in his team’s turnover total. “The fight, we’re going to have it every week. But you can’t get behind the eight-ball, down 14-0 (eight minutes into the game) and expect to win. We’ve got to clean up the mistakes.”
The Seahawks have won three straight since a season-opening loss at home to San Francisco to move into a tie atop the NFC West. They defeated host Arizona 23-20 last Thursday with Jason Myers kicking a 52-yard field goal as time expired after they blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Sam Darnold threw for 242 yards and a touchdown for Seattle. Signed in the offseason, he has 905 yards passing with five touchdowns and a 70 percent completion rate.
“I think it’s his decisiveness on how he’s playing,” said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. “He’s staying true to his reads and he’s rocking it when it’s there and when it’s not, he’s progressing and then checking it down or using his legs, and that’s what we’re asking him to do. And I think he’s doing it obviously at a really high level right now.”
The Seahawks will be without pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who sustained a quad injury early in last week’s victory. Offensive tackle Josh Jones (ankle), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and safety Julian Love (hamstring) also were ruled out.
