5 key injuries to play major role in Packers’ Week 3 game at Buccaneers
Perhaps, the one NFL team that is more banged up than the Green Bay Packers is their Week 3 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Green Bay has dealt with several injuries to key players dating back from last year that have negatively impacted their play in their first two games. Robert Tonyan and Elgton Jenkins have worked their way back from season-ending injuries a year ago, but they are shells of their former selves. Meanwhile, guys like David Bakhtiari and Kylin Hill remain out.
Bucs’ fans are probably laughing considering the injuries that continue to pile up for their team. They’ve already lost a couple of key players for the season and continue to lose major players every week.
Let’s take a look at five key players who are likely out with injuries ahead of the Packers-Bucs matchup.
The Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both heavily banged up heading into their showdown in Week 3.
Josh Wells
Wells was the backup left tackle who was thrown into the fire following a season-ending injury to Tampa Bay’s starter. Now, he is out with an injury of his own, prompting Tampa to play their third option at the position. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary have gotten off to fast starts on the season and hope to feast against lesser competition on the outside.
David Bakhtiari
Green Bay isn’t without injury problems of their own at the tackle positions. Yosh Nijman has continued to start and left tackle and hold his own. However, he’s not in the same league as a fully healthy Bakhtiari. The question remains: Will Bakh ever return to full health or even an NFL game?
Mike Evans/Julio Jones/Chris Godwin
I lumped these three wide receivers into one while acknowledging Evans is not out with an injury (he’s suspended). Tom Brady and the Bucs are hurting badly at wide receiver and were forced to sign Cole Beasley to the practice squad to fill the void. Their receivers struggled with press coverage last week, giving the Packers a blueprint to shut them down. Will Joe Barry embrace that philosophical shift?
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Akiem Hicks
Hicks was a game-wrecker in the middle during his time with the Chicago Bears and it appears the Packers are going to luck out and miss him in this matchup. Hicks went down last week and is unlikely to play according to the Bucs. That’s a huge win for Green Bay considering they need to control the clock and pound the rock.