Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield won’t practice today after suffering a contusion on his throwing hand Thursday, per source.

Mayfield underwent scans as a precaution and ruled out a more significant injury. He’s day to day.

Related Players: Kyle Trask

We don't want to see Mayfield miss anytime, but it's great news that it's not more significant. We don't expect this to linger into the regular season at this point, so we should continue to consider him a top-10 option at the position.

Bucs TE Cade Otton still not practicing tonight, same with WR Kam Johnson, S Marcus Banks. WR Trey Palmer and RB Josh Williams sidelined as well.

Related Players: Payne Durham, Ko Kieft

Auman cleared that it was a hamstring issue in a follow-up tweet. Durham is a fifth-round rookie, while Kieft has eight career receptions, so if Otton ends up missing any time, we'd expect his handful of targets to disperse to the WR room.

Multiple sources tell ESPN that Chris Godwin underwent a second procedure on his ankle this spring, shedding further light on his rehab from a dislocated ankle last season.

Related players: Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard

Laine reports the second procedure wasn't a surprise and was a clean-up procedure. It remains to be seen how much the second surgery - if at all - sets Godwin back. He wasn't expected to be a full-go in camp until closer to the season. There will likely be many updates on Godwin was we progress through camp. If he remains on PUP to start the season, he'll of course miss the first four games, which will open the door for either Egbuka or McMillan to carve out a role going forward.

As expected, wide receiver Chris Godwin and tackle Tristan Wirfs were placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Tuesday, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camp set to begin on Wednesday morning.

Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle suffered last season in Week 7, and the hope is he'll be ready to go closer to the start of the season. As the story points out, which we may have all forgotten, at the time of his injury, Godwin was leading the NFL in receptions (50), receiving first downs (33) and was second in receiving yards (576).

Bucs WR Chris Godwin, who still is recovering from a dislocated ankle, will not participate in team related activities to begin training camp.

Related players: Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Mike Evans

Godwin will instead continue to rehab with trainers, Stroud said. This could really open the door for receivers like Egbuka and McMillan while Godwin is working his way back. Godwin is still expected to be ready for Week 1, according to reports, and Egbuka and McMillan will eventually compete for the WR3 spot behind Evans and Godwin. The team did extend Godwin in the offseason.

Star WR Chris Godwin returns to Tampa, sources say, taking less money to stay with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and the rest of the gang.

He gets a 3-year, $66M deal with $45M guaranteed.

Related Players: Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, Rakim Jarrett, Ryan Miller

Godwin was having a phenomenal season before his Week 7 dislocated ankle, and will look to fill his slot role again, even if the offense looks a little different under new OC Josh Grizzard. Grizzard was the team's pass game coordinator last season, so that's a good sign that we could see Godwin reprise his role as a fantasy WR2.

TE Cade Otton, S Antoine Winfield Jr. and WR Sterling Shepard are all OUT for Bucs in Week 17.

Related Players: Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp, Trey Palmer, Ryan Miller

Shepard shouldn't impact the rest of the team's target share too much, while none of these tight ends need to be considered.

Todd Bowles says rookie RB Bucky Irving’s back has tightened up. His availability against the Chargers will depend on if they can get the back to loosen up.

Related players: Rachaad White, Sean Tucker

Irving got four carries and a catch, but then gave way to White, who went on to catch and rush for a TD, as well as gain 90 yards on the ground with Irving on the sideline. It was frustrating for Irving owners who may have played Irving last week and took advantage of his success. The Bucs play at the Chargers in a game in the later window Sunday of Week 15. Irving will be a risky play even if he seems good to go unless we get some really positive news about his back leading up to Week 15. We'll continue to monitor his practice status this week.

Today’s Bucs-Raiders injury report…Mike Evans and Bucky Irving still not practicing. Talked to Evans today though and he said, “I’m feeling good. Played close to 70 plays the last game. Felt…really good shape. I’m getting very close.”

Related Players: Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, Sterling Shepard, Jalen McMillan, Rakim Jarrett

We don't need to panic quite yet, but we're coming up against it if Evans and Irving don't practice on Friday. While the WR2s aren't particularly interesting, Rachaad White would be an easy click in Week 14 if Irving misses the game.

Bucky Irving ran 25 times for 152 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 33 yards to continue a strong stretch.

The 25 carries were the most for a Bucs back this season and it’s a sign of changing balance with Rachaad White, who also had a 38-yard run to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime. Head coach Todd Bowles said Irving’s increased comfort level in the offense is the reason for the shift.

Related players: Sean Tucker

“He’s getting more comfortable with the offense,"Bowles said, via the team’s website. “The more comfortable he gets, the more you can give him, the more he can do. Both are running well — we’re happy with both of them. Bucky has a skill you can’t teach — he can make people miss in the hole. He’s tough on the inside. Rachaad had a big run at the end of the game, as well. Using them both together seems to be working out for us.”

The story pointed out Irving’s rate of missed tackles ranks first in the league, so that skill Bowles identified is one that the rookie is putting to good use. The story also pointed out Irving has now scored in three straight games while rushing for 313 yards and catching 12 passes for 111 yards in those contests. White is still a factor, but Irving looks like he's taken over as the top back. Tucker, meanwhile, has had five touches since Week 10, a span of three games, and they all came in Week 12. Tucker had zero touches in Week 10 and Week 13.