Buccaneers Announce Bucky Irving Development Before Bills Game

"Bucs coach Todd Bowles said both Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin are out for Sunday," he reported.

Both players were limited participants in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, per the team's injury report. The Buccaneers will now try to beat the Bills (6-3) shorthanded in Sunday's road matchup.

Bowles noted each player's progress despite not being game-ready yet, per Fox Sports' Greg Auman.

"Bowles said Irving and Godwin made progress in their first week back at practice, but it's not even a sure thing they'd be ready to play next week against the [Los Angeles] Rams," he reported. "Clearly being careful with both before bringing them back."

Bills Present Litmus Test for Buccaneers

Tampa Bay heads into another AFC East matchup on Sunday after losing 28-23 to the New England Patriots (7-2) at home in Week 10. If the Buccaneers beat the Bills despite missing most of their key skill-position players, it will stamp them as true Super Bowl contenders.

Although Tampa Bay is 6-3, four of its wins came against teams with losing records. Its best victory was a 38-35 shootout on the road against the Seattle Seahawks (7-2), followed by a 30-19 Week 6 home win against the San Francisco 49ers (6-4). Other than that, it has beaten the Atlanta Falcons (3-6), Houston Texans (4-5), New York Jets (2-8), and New Orleans Saints (2-8). It also lost to the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) and Detroit Lions (6-3).

A victory over the Bills would also help the Buccaneers maintain distance in front of the Carolina Panthers (5-5) atop the NFC South. Tampa Bay is currently 1.5 games ahead of Carolina in first place.

After facing Buffalo on Sunday, Tampa Bay will play the Rams (7-2) on the road before hosting the Arizona Cardinals (3-6), Saints, and Falcons. Following that, it will face the Panthers and Miami Dolphins (3-7) on the road before capping the regular season by hosting the Panthers.