Buccaneers vs. Cowboys inactives: Week 16 injury report for Sunday Night Football [Updated]
By Lior Lampert
The Atlanta Falcons' plunge has put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the driver's seat to repeat as NFC South champions. However, the Dallas Cowboys surely wouldn't mind playing spoiler in primetime.
Tampa Bay travels to Arlington to face the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, AKA "Jerry [Jones'] World," for a Week 16 clash against Dallas. Sitting at 8-6, the Buccaneers can maintain their status atop the divisional standings with a win. Conversely, a loss could be detrimental since the Falcons hold multiple advantages.
But the Bucs will battle the Cowboys sans multiple starters as they fight for their playoff lives. Conversely, Dallas will also be undermanned, though that's been a recurring theme for them this season.
Here are Dallas and Tampa Bay's respective injury reports heading into their Week 16 Sunday Night Football showdown.
Cowboys inactives: Week 16 injury report for Sunday Night Football
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
TJ Bass | OT | Thigh | Out |
Eric Kendricks | MLB | NIR-Personal/Calf | Out |
Deuce Vaughn | RB | N/A | Out |
Jalen Brooks | WR | N/A | Out |
Juanyeh Thomas | DB | Knee | Out |
Tyrus Wheat | DE | N/A | Out |
Justin Rogers | DT | N/A | Out |
Cowboys standout cornerback Trevon Diggs won't only be out for this game, but he'll be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 NFL campaign. He suffered a season-ending knee injury for a second consecutive season, with this latest incident requiring bone graft surgery. His absence should make life easier for Bucs alpha wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, who's chasing history.
The good news for Dallas on that front, however, is that fellow cornerback, Jourdan Lewis, will play on Sunday Night Football. He was initially listed as questionable for the primetime matchup and, with Diggs already ruled out, having another starting cornerback miss this game against Tampa could've been disastrous for the Cowboys.
Linebacker Eric Kendricks, however, has been ruled out after being listed as questionable, the same of which is true for safety Juanyeh Thomas. Given that the Cowboys were already eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday's game, though, it could only get worse at AT&T Stadium.
Buccaneers inactives: Week 16 injury report for Sunday Night Football
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Antoine Winfield Jr. | S | Knee | Out |
Cade Otton | TE | Knee | Out |
Earnest Brown | DL | N/A | Out |
Royce Newman | OG | N/A | Out |
K.J. Britt | LB | Ankle | Out |
Jose Ramirez | OLB | N/A | Out |
Meanwhile, the Bucs' injury report is more straightforward. Superstar safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss a second straight contest due to a knee issue, which is a massive blow to Tampa Bay's secondary. Moreover, tight end Cade Otton is also dealing with a knee ailment that will sideline him versus Dallas, giving quarterback Baker Mayfield one less target.
Buccaneers starting linebacker K.J. Britt was listed as doubtful due to an ankle malady. He didn't practice on Wednesday but was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, giving him a chance to suit up. Similarly, Mike Edwards saw his training reps ramped up throughout the week en route to drawing a questionable tag. Without Winfield, the latter's presence becomes much more important, considering Tampa Bay will have to contain All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb.
Britt was eventually ruled out with the release of Sunday night's official inactives but the Bucs got some good news as Edwards will be able to play against Dallas. That could be important as Tampa Bay needs to win in order to stay atop the NFC South, so having Edwards to help mitigate the impact of the likes of CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys weapons could be wildly crucial to the Bucs' playoff chances.
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