The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been dealing with various injuries throughout training camp, but they could get a few of their injured players back in time for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys next week.
Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday that star right tackle Tristan Wirfs tends to be available for this game. Wirfs himself was a bit less optimistic, noting that his oblique injury has been frustrating and that “I’d rather make sure I’m ready to go than come back and have it tweaked again” and then turn into Several weeks. injury, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Russell Gage is back in practice after suffering a hamstring injury last week. “He’s getting better every day,” Bowles said of Gage. “We expect him to be on the right track to play and to move in the right direction.” With Chris Godwin unlikely to play Week 1 as he gets back into shape after last season’s ACL tear, Gage is expected to operate as Tampa’s early slot catcher.
Bowles also said fullback Giovani Bernard is “moving well” and the team hopes he can be ready to play against Dallas as well. Leonard Fournette appears to be the lead dog in the backfield with rookie Rachaad White taking up some of the slack, but Bernard’s experience in passing situations and the two-minute offense could still land him a role if he can return to the field.
