*Chris Godwin – Noteworthy
WR Chris Godwin has a touchdown reception in each of his past three games, dating to Week 17 vs. New Orleans in 2017.
Brent Grimes – Noteworthy – Injury
CB Brent Grimes has missed the first two games with a groin injury. He has not practiced since Sept. 6. He has been replaced by CB Ryan Smith.
Cameron Brate – Noteworthy
TE Cameron Brate was not targeted with a pass in the win against the Eagles. He does not have a reception this season after finishing with 48 a year ago.
DeSean Jackson – Noteworthy
Bucs WR DeSean Jackson leads the NFL in receiving yards with 275 yards. His three touchdowns matches his 2017 total.
Jameis Winston – Important
QB Jameis Winston was on the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by the female Uber driver who accused him of groping her. The plaintiff, identified as “Kate P.”, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Arizona. She said that Winston “issued a hollow apology” in July and “has a history of sexually hostile behavior and appears to be no closer to understanding the impact of his conduct.” Winston is serving a three-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He is set to return from his ban following the Buccaneers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. The lawsuit alleges that Winston was “belligerent” and placed his fingers between the plaintiff’s legs and pressed them firmly over her yoga pants while waiting in the drive-thru line of Los Betos restaurant in Scottsdale in March 2016.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Important
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kansas City Chiefs passer Patrick Mahomes were honored by the NFL for the second consecutive week. The league announced Wednesday that Fitzpatrick was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after tossing four touchdown passes in his second straight contest. Fitzpatrick followed his sterling season-opening performance with another in the Buccaneers’ 27-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He joined Mahomes (2018) and New England’s Drew Bledsoe (1997) by throwing for at least four touchdown passes in back-to-back contests to begin the season.
Vita Vea – Noteworthy – Injury
DT Vita Vea, the Bucs’ first-round pick from Washington, has not practiced since the first week of August when he suffered a calf injury on the first day the team was in pads.