The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did well to grind out a 23-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, as picking up a victory over a division rival to open the season is huge. However, they had some injury issues emerge from this game, and heading into Week 2, one guy whose status is still up in the air is starting right tackle Luke Goedeke.
With left tackle Triston Wirfs still recovering from offseason surgery on his knee, the Bucs’ offensive line is already shorthanded heading into their second game of the season. And according to head coach Todd Bowles, it sounds like the team still doesn’t know if Goedeke will take the field for Tampa Bay.
Todd Bowles Provides Murky Luke Goedeke Injury Update
The Buccaneers selected Goedeke in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and after starting his career at left guard, he ended up kicking outside to right tackle, earning a starting job in 2023. Goedeke quickly turned himself into one of the best players at the position in the league, forming a top-tier pairing with Wirfs, who holds down the fort at left tackle.
Right before the start of the 2025 campaign, Goedeke put pen to paper on a massive four-year, $90 million contract extension that will keep him with the Bucs through the 2029 season. With Wirfs also locked up through the 2029 campaign, Tampa Bay has two of the most important positions in the game filled with de facto stars.
Of course, that doesn’t mean much if both guys aren’t on the field, and that is a situation the team could be forced to deal with in Week 2. Goedeke picked up a foot injury in the Bucs’ Week 1 win, and while he managed to finish the game, it’s thrown his status for the team’s next game up in the air. While he returned to practice on Saturday, Bowles made it seem like Goedeke is going to be a game-time decision.
“He was limited, but he moved around and did some things,” Bowles said when speaking to reporters on Saturday. “We gotta see how he’s feeling after today’s practice, and he’ll probably work out before the game and see where he’s at.”
Buccaneers Hoping Luke Goedeke Can Suit Up in Week 2
GettyBuccaneers head coach Todd Bowles provided a murky injury update on Luke Goedeke ahead of Week 2
Wirfs’ absence has already put the Buccaneers’ o-line in a bind, so being without Goedeke, even for one game, could be catastrophic. His return to practice is a good sign, but it’s still early in the season, so it remains to be seen how much the team will push him in order to get him on the field for their upcoming game.
Tampa Bay could certainly use Goedeke because it will be going up against a vaunted Houston Texans defense in Week 2. Without Goedeke, quarterback Baker Mayfield may be running for his life under center for much of this game. The good news is that with this game being on Monday Night Football, Goedeke has a little extra time to get himself ready to take the field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on Goedeke to see if he can suit up.
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