Week 18 Bucs vs. Saints Injury Report

It’s a new year, but this week, the Bucs have an opportunity to prove that the NFC South still runs through them.

With a win on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Tampa will clinch its fourth straight divisional crown, a streak that would match the previous champs’ four-season streak…the Saints. 

A loss could come back to haunt the Bucs, who would then need the Atlanta Falcons to lose against the Carolina Panthers in order to win the NFC South, but with a win and they’re in a scenario presenting itself, let’s look at which players are healthy for the regular season finale.

Bucs Down Another Starter

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Every week, it seems the Bucs lineup is undergoing a change due to a starter sustaining an injury; this week looks more of the same. 

Starting cornerback Jamel Dean left last week’s game after the first half due to a knee injury, making his availability for this week’s must-win game a major question mark.

After the team beat the Carolina Panthers, starting cornerback  Zyon McCollum spoke about the team’s injury woes.

“Of course, we wanna be healthy and stay healthy,” McCollum said. “When this team is healthy, obviously we’re at our best, but our backup guys are very prepared, and it’s next man up mentality. I have full faith in all of our backups and this entire locker room. Normally, the healthiest team wins the Super Bowl, but we also understand that everybody has to be ready; they will be ready, and we’re excited about that.”

With that, here is the Bucs injury report after Wednesday:

• TE Devin Culp — ribs — limited participant 
• CB Jamel Dean — knee — did not participate 
• TE Payne Durham — quadriceps — did not participate 
• DL William Gholston — knee — limited participant 
• RB Bucky Irving — shoulder/shin — limited participant 
• TE Cade Otton — knee — did not participate 
• WR Sterling Shepard — hamstring — limited participant
• S Antoine Winfield Jr. — knee — did not participate 
• LT Tristan Wirfs — rest — limited participant 
• WR Mike Evans — rest — limited participant 

Saints Injury Report

Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

Here is the New Orleans Saints injury report after Wednesday:

• QB Derek Carr — left hand — did not participate 
• RB Alvin Kamara — groin — did not participate 
• RB Kendre Miller — concussion — did not participate 
• DE Payton Turner — ankle — did not participate 
• LB Pete Werner — concussion — did not participate 
• TE Juwan Johnson — knee — limited participant 
• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling — chest — limited participant 
• WR Chris Olave — head — full participant