The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost several core offensive players during their shutout loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night, and it sounds like the injuries will leave them shorthanded in Week 16.
Star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both left the game early. Evans injured his hamstring and tried to return, but he came off the field again after just one play. Godwin suffered a knee injury. Starting running back Leonard Fournette also tweaked his hamstring.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media provided updates on all three players Monday. Godwin’s injury is the most severe, as he is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with an MCL sprain. The hamstring injuries to Evans and Fournette don’t sound like major concerns, but their status for next Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is up in the air.
Obviously, the priority for the Bucs is the postseason. They’re 10-4 and still three games ahead of New Orleans despite the stunning 9-0 loss. Tom Brady, who took out his intense frustration on a tablet Sunday, may have to play some of his best football to close out the regular season.
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