Starting Buccaneers Defensive Back Out vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting wideout Jalen McMillan back, but they'll be losing a player on the defensive side of the ball.

Sep 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith (23) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got some good news ahead of their Week 10 game against San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but that good news unfortunately comes with some bad news as well.

The team released their inactive players list ahead of the game, and it looked like their standard list — save for one player. Buccaneers defensive back Tykee Smith popped up on the injury report Friday with a knee injury after practice on Friday and was questionable to play Sunday. As it turns out, he is inactive, so he will be out for the game:

Inactives for TB vs. SF — Tykee Smith is not playing:

#13 WR Mike Evans
#23 DB Tykee Smith
#33 OLB Jose Ramirez
#48 LB Antonio Grier Jr.
#64 OL Royce Newman
#82 TE Devin Culp
#97 DL Earnest Brown IV

— River Wells (@riverhwells) November 10, 2024

Smith has been a good player for Tampa Bay in his rookie year, netting three forced fumbles and an interception. Tampa Bay's defense has already struggled, and without Smith, those struggles could be amplified. Defensive back Christian Izien is the likely candidate to replace him, as he was Tampa Bay's nickel corner last year.

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