Buccaneers offense may 'change quite a bit' with out Chris Godwin

The Buccaneers have already been hit with the damage bug headed into their Week 2 matchup.

Extensive receiver Chris Godwin is within the concussion protocol and missed apply once more on Thursday, which can influence offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich’s play-calling come Sunday towards the Panthers.

“It does some, simply due to who he’s,” Leftwich mentioned. “Identical to it was final week with Mike [Evans’ availability being in question until game time], similar factor. With who they’re, it adjustments quite a bit. It’s one thing that we’re taking a look at. We don’t know something proper now, however we’ll be ready for something.”

Fellow wideout Evans has been restricted with a hamstring difficulty. He performed 65 of 70 snaps, however reeled in only one catch on 4 targets for 2 yards within the Buccaneers’ Week 1 loss to the Saints.

“I really feel good. I felt ok to play final week, in order that’s no excuse,” Evans mentioned Thursday. “Clearly, I may’ve performed higher. This week I really feel quite a bit higher. No person ever performs at 100 % anyway, particularly when you’re receiver. No person performs all the best way at 100 %. I’m shut sufficient.”

Godwin, 23, completed with the third-most receiving yards (1,333) behind Julio Jones and Michael Thomas final 12 months. Evans, 26, additionally broke the 1,000 yard mark and completed 13th in receiving yards (1,157).

With the Buccaneers’ 1-2 punch injured, quarterback Tom Brady might have to show to different elements of their offense. After Godwin and Evans on the depth chart is 22-year-old Scotty Miller, who noticed six targets and caught 5 passes for 73 yards final week.

Tight ends O.J. Howard and Rob Gronkowski and operating backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones may additionally see extra involvement this week. Howard was on the sector lower than Gronkowski final week however reeled in 4 of six targets for 36 yards and a landing, whereas Gronkowski caught two of three passes for 11 yards.

Brady, 43, must step up his sport after a shoddy, two-interception debut for Tampa. The Buccaneers’ offense ought to put up factors with or with out Godwin this week towards a extremely exploitable Carolina secondary and a line of defense that didn’t document a single hit on Derek Carr in Week 1.