A big-time Week 6 showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers appears to be on track to be marred by injury on both sides.
We’ve cataloged the 49ers injury problems since training camp, but the 4-1 Buccaneers have a slew of injury question marks of their own to sort out before Sunday.
Among the nine players either limited or absent for Tampa Bay on their first practice report of the week are wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, along with running back Bucky Irving. That’s the Buccaneers top two wide receivers and leading rusher from a season ago.
Tampa Bay was without that trio against the Seattle Seahawks and still posted 38 points in a 38-35 win last week. Still, their run game struggled without Irving. They ran it 23 times for 57 yards with Rachaad White leading the way by churning out 41 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
The passing game suffered less thanks to rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who hauled in all seven of his targets for 163 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Cade Otton (their No. 2 pass catcher last season) stepped back into that role and caught four-of-five targets for 81 yards.
It would undoubtedly be a break for the 49ers if that trio of Evans-Godwin-Irving trio is unable to suit up Sunday, although San Francisco would still have its hands full with the Buccaneers offense. We’ll keep a close eye on their injury situation up to Friday when the injury report officially comes out.
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