The San Francisco 49ers hit the highway on Sunday to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Todd Bowles ruled out a pair of cornerbacks, two of Baker Mayfield’s favorite targets, and their big-play running back:
WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
RB Bucky Irving
CB Zyon McCollum
CB Benjamin Morrison
Iriving didn’t practice all week. He’s battling multiple injuries and was last seen in a walking boot.
Evans will miss his third game in a row with a hamstring injury. Godwin suffered a fibula injury against
the Seattle Seahawks last week. He missed the first three games after recovering from a dislocated ankle last season that required reconstructive surgery.
The 49ers still have to go against rookie wide receiver Emeka Egubuka and attempt to keep him out of the end zone. Egbuka has been electric to start the season. But now he’ll have to do it with Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson as the other wide receivers on the field.
McCollum has started at cornerback in every game this season for the Bucs. Starting cornerback Jamel Dean was a full participant during Thursday’s practice after missing Week 5. So Tampa Bay will lose one starter but get another back. Dean is their CB1.
Morrison was Tampa Bay’s second-round draft pick in 2025. He’s filled in when one of the other cornerbacks suffered an injury. He’ll miss his second game in a row. Morrison held up well against AJ Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago before injury.
Morrison’s absence means musical chairs in the secondary for the Bucs. Rookie Jacob Parrish goes from playing nickel to the outside. On passing downs, Kindle Vildor was the next cornerback in. Week 5 was Vildor’s first defensive snaps of the season.
We’ll update this post with the 49ers’ final injury report once that’s released.
