Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) hits Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) in the helment during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Bucs All-Pro S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) out for 2nd straight game

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was ruled out for Sunday’s home matchup with the Denver Broncos, the second straight game he will miss with a foot injury he suffered in Week 1.

Right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf) will also sit out for the second straight week as the Bucs (2-0) seek their first 3-0 start since 2005.

Defensive tackle Vita Vea (knee) missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being a limited participant on Friday. He’s listed as doubtful. Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Vea will likely be a game-time decision.

Winfield, 26, who landed a four-year, $84.1 million deal in May that included $45 million fully guaranteed, was an All-Pro last season and a Pro Bowl selection in 2021.

In his fifth season since the Bucs drafted him in the second round in 2020, Winfield has seven interceptions, 27 pass breakups, 11 forced fumbles (including tying for the NFL lead with six in 2023), eight fumble recoveries, 15 sacks and 391 tackles.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Buccaneers missing at least three starters vs. Lions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out three starters –All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot, ankle), defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf) and right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) — for Sunday’s road game against the Detroit Lions.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles also ruled out backup cornerback Josh Hayes (ankle), while starting cornerback Zyon McCallum and starting defensive end Logan Hall are both questionable.

McCallum has practiced all week after suffering a concussion in Week 1 but still has to clear concussion protocol. He must clear protocol by Saturday to be eligible to play Sunday. Hall missed the season opener with a foot injury.

“Zyon has some tests to pass. We’ll see how Logan feels tomorrow,” Bowles said. “I feel good about (McCollum). He’s working hard. You’ve got to pass the test, which I’m not a part of, so we’ll see.”

Reserve safety/nickelback Christian Izien is expected to fill in for Winfield, while backup/swing tackle Justin Skule will replace Goedeke. If Smith isn’t healthy by Sunday, Izien could play nickel with Kaveon Merriweather at safety, Bowles said. Ben Stille is listed as Kancey’s backup on the depth chart.

“Guys make this team for a reason,” Bowles said. “Everybody’s going to go through their lumps at some point. Better now than midseason — give some young guys and give some other guys some experience that could help us later on, so we’re going to go with what we got.”

Undrafted rookie free agent Tyrek Funderburk, who was inactive in Week 1, would replace McCollum if that latter doesn’t clear protocol.

For the Lions, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) and wide receiver Isaiah Williams (abdomen) were ruled out, while defensive end Marcus Davenport (groin) is doubtful. Starting wide receiver Jameson Williams and starting right tackle Penei Sewell are questionable with ankle injuries, and starting safety Kerby Joseph (hamstring) is also questionable.

–Field Level Media

Hendon Hooker (5) of the Tennessee Volunteers gets sacked by Calijah Kancey (8) of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on Spetmebr 10, 2022.

Pittsburgh Panthers Vs Tennessee Volunteers

DT prospects Adetomiwa Adebawore, Calijah Kancey run blazing 40s

Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey told his college coach he was headed to the NFL Scouting Combine to break the record for the 40-yard dash at his position.

And a day after promising media at his press conference his 40 would “surprise,” Kancey ripped off a pair of sizzling times.

“I’m going to surprise everyone with my 40. Stay tuned,” Kancey said Wednesday.

His second attempt in the 40 was unofficially clocked at 4.73 seconds, then confirmed via digital timing to 4.67, the fastest for a defensive tackle in the past 20 years. But his record didn’t stand for long.

That’s because Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore followed shortly after with an unofficial 4.54.

Adebawore, a star of the Senior Bowl who was voted defensive lineman practice player of the week in Mobile, Ala., measured at 6-feet-1 1/2, 282 pounds upon arrival in Indianapolis. He said he has met with all 32 teams in the past five weeks, either at the Senior Bowl or combine.

Teams asked Adebawore to join the “edge” group in combine workouts Thursday and he stood out in the 40, but also with a 37 1/2-inch vertical and 10-foot-5-inch broad jump.

His 10-yard split, his fastest 10 yards in the 40-yard dash, was 1.61 seconds.

Rated as a first-round prospect, Kancey measured 6-1, 281 pounds in Indianapolis earlier this week. He’s fully cleared from a shoulder injury but will not participate in on-field position drills until his campus pro day.

Limited by size, Kancey is an intriguing study for NFL evaluators.

Some of them are still scorched over missing on another fire hydrant defensive tackle out of Pitt — Aaron Donald. Donald measured 6-0, 285 at the 2014 combine, where he record a 4.68-second 40, 32-inch vertical and wound up being drafted by the then-St. Louis Rams with the 13th overall pick. That easily beat most projections, including the NFL.com rating as a fourth- or fifth-rounder.

Donald is three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a seven-time first-team All-Pro.

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (8) reacts after recording a sack against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Tennessee won 34-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Star Pitt DT Calijah Kancey to miss bowl game

Standout Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey announced Saturday he will miss the Panthers’ bowl game.

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year alluded to a health issue in an Instagram post.

Kancey did not play in the Panthers’ 42-16 victory at Miami in the Nov. 26 regular-season finale.

“I left it all on the field in 2022. I was disappointed to not play at Miami, in my hometown. Unfortunately, I will also be out for the bowl game,” Kancey wrote. “But I look forward to helping my teammates prepare. Thanks to the best trainers in the country at Pitt. I know they will help me get back to 100% very soon.”

He collected 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 11 games this season for Pitt (8-4), becoming the first player from the school to earn the ACC’s top defensive honor since Aaron Donald in 2013.

The 6-foot-1, 280-pound junior has not confirmed whether he will enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

The bowl schedule will be released Sunday.

–Field Level Media