The Saints will be without at least two players who started for them last Sunday, and possibly a third, when the Buccaneers visit the Superdome this Sunday.
On Friday, the Saints’ official injury report ruled out a total of five players who have not practice all week, including starting right tackle Zach Strief (ankle) and starting free safety Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring). In addition, starting fullback Jed Collins (toe) is listed as questionable for the game, though he did return to practice in a limited fashion on Friday.
Presumably, the job at right tackle on Sunday would go to William Robinson, who would be making his first NFL start. Experienced veteran tackle Charles Brown is also out for Sunday’s game with a knee injury and T Bryce Harris, who started one game earlier this season, recently went to injured reserve. Second-year man Rafael Bush is listed behind Jenkins on the Saints’ depth chart and could also make his first NFL start.
The Buccaneers haven’t ruled any players out for Sunday’s game yet but do have two question marks heading into the weekend. DE Da’Quan Bowers (hamstring) was held out of Friday’s practice after participating fully and is now listed as questionable. CB LeQuan Lewis (knee) was limited on the field the last two days and is also questionable; he missed last week’s game against Philadelphia after suffering his injury in Denver in Week 13.
Here are the week’s final injury reports for both teams, complete with game-status designations:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Player | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| DE Michael Bennett | Shoulder | Full Participation | Probable |
| DE Da’Quan Bowers | Hamstring | Did Not Participate | Questionable |
| CB Anthony Gaitor | Hamstring | Full Participation | Probable |
| CB LeQuan Lewis | Knee | Limited Participation | Questionable |
| G Jamon Meredith | Ankle | Full Participation | Probable |
| DT Roy Miller | Head | Full Participation | Probable |
New Orleans Saints
| Player | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| T Charles Brown | Knee | Did Not Participate | Out |
| FB Jed Collins | Toe | Limited Participation | Questionable |
| RB Chris Ivory | Hamstring | Did Not Participate | Out |
| CB Malcolm Jenkins | Hamstring | Did Not Participate | Out |
| T Zach Strief | Ankle | Did Not Participate | Out |
| CB Corey White | Knee | Did Not Participate | Out |