Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) will be among the numerous key Tampa Bay Buccaneers players to miss the team's Week 6 road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
Two defensive stars, linebacker Lavonte David (ankle) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion), will also miss the game.
#Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) is ruled out for tomorrow vs. #Eagles. Also out: LB Lavonte David (ankle) and S Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion).
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 13, 2021
Gronkowski has missed the past two games after suffering a combination of cracked and broken ribs in the team's Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The veteran tight end had 16 receptions, 184 yards, and four touchdowns over the first three weeks. Expect Cameron Brate to continue to see the bulk of targets at the tight end position in Gronkowski's absence.
David was forced to leave in the first half of the Buccaneers' 45-17 thrashing of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He will be considered week-to-week following the Eagles' game. The veteran LB had played every snap of the season to that point. He's second on the team in tackles, trailing fellow stud LB Devin White.
On Monday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported that Winfield was in concussion protocol. Bucs head coach Bruce Arians did not initially rule out the safety's chances of playing vs. Philadelphia, but the short turnaround has apparently made that unfeasible. Winfield ranks third on Tampa Bay in tackles. He's forced a fumble and picked up off a pass, too.
On the plus side, quarterback Tom Brady escaped a serious thumb injury and should be fine going forward.
Furthermore, kicker Ryan Succop (back), running back Giovani Bernard (knee/chest), cornerback Jamal Dean (knee), and wide receiver Antonio Brown (knee) have been full participants in practice this week.
Center Ryan Jensen (hip) was listed as a non-participant in practice to begin the week, but has since been upgraded to limited participant. Defensive lineman Patrick O'Connor (calf) was upgraded from limited to full participant. Here's an injury report.
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