September 23, 2023
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CB Carlton Davis (24) is a notable injured Bucs player to monitor as the week progresses.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost CB Avonte Maddox to a likely season-ending injury during their Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings, though they should benefit from the probable returns of CB James Bradberry and S Reed Blankenship Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here's the Eagles-Buccaneers injury report, with analysis.
| Player | Injury | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Status |
| S Terrell Edmunds | Illness | DNP | DNP | Full | - |
| RB Boston Scott | Concussion | DNP | Limited | Limited | Out |
| WR Quez Watkins | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| S Reed Blankenship | Ribs | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| CB James Bradberry | Concussion | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| DT Fletcher Cox | Ribs | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| LB Zach Cunningham | Ribs | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| DT Jordan Davis | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| RB Kenny Gainwell | Ribs | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| WR DeVonta Smith | Hamstring/Thigh | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| TE Jack Stoll | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
| DE Josh Sweat | Toe | Limited | Limited | Full | - |
Thursday notes:
• The Eagles have 12 players on their injury report, which is a high number, but none of the non-participants are starters, unless you're counting Watkins as one.
• We'll see how the "limited" players progress over the next few days, but the significant news is that Bradberry and Blankenship are practicing again.
Friday notes:
• Blankenship, Bradberry, Cox, and Gainwell were all full participants, so they will all be good to go for Monday, barring any surprises.
• Boston Scott was also limited participant after missing practice on Thursday. If Scott can play, that will likely mean that Rashaad Penny will be a healthy scratch, like he was Week 1 in New England.
Saturday notes:
• Scott is out, so Penny will dress. To be determined who will return kickoffs. My guess? Either Penny or Britain Covey.
• With Watkins out, Olamide Zaccheaus will start in the slot. The Eagles will be thin at receiver.
• LB Nakobe Dean: After 2022 starting linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White left in free agency, Dean became the team's top linebacker, with added responsibilities as the "green dot" helmet wearer, relaying the play calls from Sean Desai to the rest of the defense.
Dean did not stand out in a good or bad way throughout the first few weeks of training camp, and he missed some time with an injury. However, he made a big play when he forced a goal line fumble in the Eagles' second preseason game against the Browns, and he was very active and around the ball a lot in joint practices against the Colts. He closed camp on a high note. In the Eagles' first game against the Patriots, he injured his foot and landed on injured reserve. He'll be eligible to return to the field Week 6 against the Jets.
The Eagles only have three other off-ball linebackers on their 53-man roster. They are Zach Cunningham, Nicholas Morrow, and Christian Elliss. Cunnning ham and Morrow started Week 2 against the Vikings, with Morrow wearing the "green dot" helmet.
• CB Avonte Maddox: Maddox is reportedly scheduled to have surgery this week to repair a torn pectoral muscle. His season is likely over.
Slot corner is a position where the Eagles don't have proven depth. In Maddox's absence last Thursday night against the Vikings, 2022 UDFA Mario Goodrich filled in and played 39 snaps. That was the first regular season action of Goodrich's career.
The oft-injured Maddox missed games at three different junctures during the season in 2022:
Maddox also missed three games in 2018, four games in 2019, and six games in 2020. He is one of the best slot corners in the NFL when healthy, but it seems there will always be durability concerns.
As we noted in our five matchups to watch, assuming James Bradberry recovers from his concussion in time to play Monday night, it feels like the Eagles will start Bradberry and Darius Slay, with Bradberry sliding inside to the slot in nickel looks and Josh Jobe playing outside.
| Player | Injury | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Status |
| DT Calijah Kancey | Calf | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| LB SirVocea Dennis | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| CB Carlton Davis | Toe | Limited | Limited | Limited | Questionable |
| DT Vita Vea | Pectoral | Limited | Limited | Limited | Questionable |
| S Ryan Neal | Ribs/Knee | Limited | Full | Full | - |
| RG Cody Mauch | Back | - | Limited | Full | Questionable |
| LB Devin White | Groin | - | Limited | Limited | Questionable |
Thursday notes:
• Kancey was the Bucs' first-round pick (19th overall) in 2023. He started Week 1 but only played 11 snaps.
• Davis and Vea are the two notable players who were limited. Davis did not play Week 2 against the Bears.
Friday notes:
• The additions of Mauch and White to the injury report are bad developments for the Bucs. #Analysis.
Saturday notes:
• Kancey and Dennis are out, and four starters — Davis, Vea, White, and Mauch — are all questionable. The Bucs probably feel good about Mauch's chances of playing since he practiced in full on Saturday, however, Davis, Vea, and White are all very important players in the Bucs' defense, and they were all limited.
• C Ryan Jensen (IR): During 2022 training camp, Jensen tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, meniscus, and fractured his tibial head and cartilage, per Jenna Laine of ESPN. He somehow returned to play six months later in the Buccaneers' home playoff loss to the Cowboys, which turned out to be an ill-advised decision to rush back. The Bucs placed Jensen on IR late in August due to complications from his knee surgery:
The #Bucs will place C Ryan Jensen on season-ending Injury Reserve thanks to the complications from the knee injury that robbed him of nearly all of last season, GM Jason Licht announced. The injury is so significant that Jensen likely had played his last down in the NFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2023
• WR Russell Gage (IR): Gage is a solid No. 3 receiver who played four years with the Falcons before signing with the Bucs last season. He had 51 catches for 426 yards and 5 TDs in 13 games for Tampa in 2022. The No. 3 receiver is now sixth-round rookie Trey Palmer, who has 3 catches for 28 yards so far this season.
• RB Chase Edmonds (IR): Edmonds had 4 carries for 20 yards in his first two games with the Bucs. He suffered an MCL strain and landed on IR.
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