Breaking down the Bucs Injury Report

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Genard Avery- EDGE- OUT:  Not a big loss, as he is a 47 PFF rating overall for the season.  Rotaional backup

Jamel Dean- CB- OUT:  This one hurts them big-time. He is their second best defender with an overall PFF rating for the season of 79.1 with an elite tackling grade and a 79.1 for coverage.

Carl Nassib- OLB (Edge)- OUT:  Nassib has been a solid, but not spectacular player since leaving the Raiders and joining the Bucs.  Overall PFF ranking:  67.7 for the year.  Rotational backup.

Vita Vea-  NT- OUT:  Vea has been a dominant NT in the NFL since he arrived.  Though his PFF rating is only 61.9 for the season, this is much like how PFF doesn't realize how much the presence of Reader impacts a game (unless he bats down a ball or makes a TFL).  This is a HUGE loss for the Bucs.  

Mike Edwards- S- Questionable:  FP Thursday and Friday

Julio Jones- WR- Questionable:  DNP Wednesday or Thursday, but LP on Friday

Sean Murphy-bunting- CB- Questionalble:  FP Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka-  LB- Questionable.  FP Thursday and Friday

Antoine Winfield Jr- S- Questionable:  LP Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  This could be huge if he is not available, though I would imagine he will go.  He could be playing at less than 100%.  

Tristin Wirfs-  OT- Questionable:  DNP Wednesday, LP Thursday and Friday.  He is their best player on offense, if not the team, with an overall PFF rating of 86.9.  I would imagine he will play.  (EDIT:  UPDATE:  WIRFS IS OUT)

So, overall, this is a pretty extensive list.  The biggest loss on defense has to be Vea.  Dean being out could also be big, but the Bengals could be without Higgins and Boyd, who are being referred to as "in case of emergency" status, which tells me they will be starting with Chase, Irwin, and Taylor.  Was hoping to see the burner recently acquired on the PS get added, but he probably doesn't know much of anything at this point.  

Wirfs not being 100% is trumped by the loss of Hendrickson.

The fact that the Bucs are without Vea should encourage the Bengals to pound the ball with Mixon and Perine, but the bucs do have two really good run defending safeties in Logan Ryan and Winfield, Jr.  Winfield Jr. being banged up might be another reason to try, but I can't help but think with the WR corps of Chase, Irwin, and Taylor out there, they may not feel so threatened as to keep their safeties back.  I would imagine they will try to take away the middle of the field (and easy check-downs) and rely on their pass rush to get home with guys that don't uncover quickly.  Aside from Chase, that is what Burrow will have to work with.  They will need Wilcox to step up and have his best game as a pro.  I could see him being targeted 4-5 times.  They must connect and get some YAC to move the sticks.  

I am not as worried about stopping the Bucs offense, though with Wirfs back, they are essentially 100% on that side of the ball.  

If the Bengals had Higgins and Boyd both healthy, I think the Bengals win this one by two scores.  As it is, the RBs will need a big game, as will the backup TE.  I can't put more on Chase's shoulders than are already on them, but I hope they move him around to generate matchups because I can see Tampa doing everything to hit him at the LOS, and bracket him all day without the fear of Higgins and Boyd out there.