The Tampa Bay Buccaneers relayed concerning injury news on Thursday of Week 10, as team reporter Scott Smith noted that the coaching staff “added starting LG Ben Bredeson to their injury report [on November 6].”
He also reported that Bredeson was officially classified as a “limited” practice participant, so all hope is not yet lost. The starting offensive lineman was listed with a shoulder injury.
The scary part about this injury is that it popped up out of nowhere on the Thursday of a game week. Although not much is known about the state of Bredeson’s shoulder at this time, this new “limited” designation puts the Buccaneers veteran’s Week 10 status in doubt.
Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Rick Stroud also confirmed Bredeson’s new injury status.
Ben Bredeson’s Injury Is Just the Tip of the Iceberg for the Buccaneers in Week 10 vs. Patriots
If it were just Bredeson who was hurt ahead of a challenging Week 10 matchup with the 7-2 New England Patriots, the Buccaneers would be in decent shape. But the injury list is still very long here in November, as it’s been for the entire 2025 season.
Running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder), wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula), and outside linebackers Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) and Markees Watts (hand) have all missed both practices this week. And none of the four seems particularly close to returning.
Irving and Godwin are expected to be ruled out for Week 10 as they continue to work their way back from long-term injuries, and Reddick and Watts appear to be in a similar boat, barring significant improvement on Friday, November 7.
To make matters worse, the Buccaneers have already lost several integral pieces to season-ending injuries or extended stints on the injured reserve. Star wide receiver Mike Evans, former first-round defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, 2025 draft pick David Walker, wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and guard Cody Mauch are just some of the notable players that Tampa Bay has lost this year.
Amazingly, head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield have led the Bucs to a 6-2 record despite all this.
Buccaneers Get Silver Lining Amid Latest Injury News
There was a silver lining on the injury front this week. Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke has begun practicing again and is reportedly nearing a return.
“Goedeke, who was placed on injured reserve after aggravating a foot injury in Week 2 at Houston, practiced in pads Thursday,” Stroud reported with the Tampa Bay Times.
The veteran beat reporter added that “[Goedeke] was limited but, by all accounts, played well.”
Swing tackle Charlie Heck has been starting at right tackle with Goedeke sidelined, and he’s really done well to help keep this offense humming without a key member of the blocking unit. Having said that, the Buccaneers could be down another starter if Bredeson’s shoulder injury is more troublesome than it appears.
Per Stroud, “the Bucs have a 21-day period during which they can activate Goedeke,” so he may not return in Week 10.
Goedeke was listed as a “limited” participant on both Wednesday and Thursday, while Bredeson had no injury designation on Wednesday before getting hit with the “limited” tag on Thursday. The hope is that at least one of — if not both of — these offensive linemen can suit up against the Patriots on Sunday.
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