Buccaneers Chris Godwin Will Not Play, Donovan Smith Gametime Decision vs Saints
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While all the talk coming out of Week 1 was the Dallas Cowboys' loss of quarterback Dak Prescott, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't come away unscathed themselves.
Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin was making his first appearance in a game since tearing his ACL last December against the New Orleans Saints.
The same Saints Tampa Bay will face this Sunday in Week 2.
Godwin started the game with a bang but left it with a limp on what was later revealed to be a hamstring injury.
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Friday, September 16: On the team's final injury report of the week it was revealed receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring) will not play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Donovan Smith (elbow), and cornerback Zyon McCollum (hamstring) are listed as doubtful and we know quarterback Tom Brady's blindside protector will be a game-time decision.
The Bucs have a long list of questionable players, including receivers Mike Evans (calf), Julio Jones (knee), Russell Gage (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (knee), and running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring).
Right tackle Tristan Wirfs (abdomen) is also questionable while Brady, linebacker Lavonte David, and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks are all good to go for Week 2 after receiving rest days during the week.
For the Saints, their final injury report ruled out cornerback Paulson Adebo (ankle) with running back Alvin Kamara (ribs) listed as questionable after missing the final two practices of the week.
Also questionable for New Orleans are running backs Mark Ingram (ankle) and Dwayne Washington (hamstring), wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (shoulder), cornerback Alontae Taylor (hip) and quarterback Jameis Winston (back).
Defensive end Cameron Jordan (hip), safety Marcus Maye (ankle), guard Calvin Throckmorton (illness) and offensive tackle Landon Young (hip) were all full participants on Friday and have been cleared for Week 2.
Thursday, September 15: Three Buccaneers were upgraded on the day's practice report, while one big one was actually downgraded from limited on Wednesday to DNP (did not participate) on Thursday.
Did Not Participate: Wide receiver Mike Evans (calf), wide receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring), wide receiver Julio Jones (knee), offensive tackle Donovan Smith (elbow)
Limited: Running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring), wide receiver Russell Gage (hamstring), cornerback Zyon McCollum (hamstring), wide receiver Breshad Perriman (knee), offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (abdomen)
Full: Quarterback Tom Brady (rest)
With Evans downgraded to a DNP on Thursday, the Bucs' starting receiver group looks like Gage and Perriman as the first two on the field.
While McCollum's upgrade to limited is a positive sign against a Saints team with substantially more weapons than the last time the two teams met, Tampa Bay is hoping to have better news on Friday regarding their own offensive contributors.
For the Saints, running back Alvin Kamara was downgraded to DNP from the previous day's report while safety Marcus Maye and guard Calvin Throckmorton were both upgraded to full participants Thursday, after being limited on Wednesday.
Wednesday, September 14: Left tackle Donovan Smith also left Week 1 with an elbow injury, and neither he or Godwin was at practice to start the week on Wednesday, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic.
Officially, Godwin and Smith were non-participants, as were quarterback Tom Brady (rest), receivers Russell Gage (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee), and cornerback Zyon McCollum (hamstring).
Limited in Wednesday's practice were receivers Mike Evans (calf) and Breshad Perriman (knee), running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring), and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (abdomen).
For the Saints, they left their Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons feeling good. All but running back Alvin Kamara, who is reportedly suffering from a rib injury.
"At this point, it’s all wait and see throughout the practice week," Ross Jackson of the Locked On Saints Podcast told me on Wednesday. "Head coach Dennis Allen said in his Monday press conference that he believes Kamara 'is going to be fine'."
When New Orlean's initial injury report of the week was revealed we learned that while Kamara did participate in practice he was limited.
READ MORE: Tom Brady Speaks About Pain Following Week 1
As were running backs Mark Ingram (ankle) and Dwayne Washington (hamstring), defensive end Cameron Jordan (hip), safety Marcus Maye (ankle), receiver Tre'Quan Smith (shoulder), cornerback Alontae Taylor (hip), offensive linemen Calvin Throckmorton (illness) and Landon Young (hip), and quarterback Jameis Winston (back).
Cornerback Paulson Adebo (ankle) was the only player that did not participate in practice for New Orleans on Wednesday.
For the Buccaneers, a regular season win over the Saints in Week 2 would mean much more than starting the year 2-0.
It would be the Bucs' first regular-season win over New Orleans since September 9, 2018, when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-40 win for the guys in pewter.
*This post will be updated daily as new injury updates become available, all leading to Week 2 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the New Orleans Saints in a clash of undefeated NFC South opponents.
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