The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a few injuries to keep an eye on as they prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to the official injury report released by Buccaneers Communications, outside linebackers Rueben Bain Jr. and Anthony Nelson and linebacker Josiah Trotter did not participate in Wednesday's practice. Tampa Bay had six players listed in total, while Minnesota opened the week with eight players on its report.
Buccaneers injury report
Bain's groin injury is worth monitoring after the rookie started each of Tampa Bay's first two games. Head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Bain suffered the injury during the Bucs' loss to Cleveland, and it kept him off the practice field at the start of the week.
Trotter is also dealing with an injury
coming out of Sunday's game. The rookie hurt his shoulder during the third quarter against Cleveland but returned and finished with 48 defensive snaps and a team-high 11 tackles. Nelson's shin injury gives Tampa Bay another concern at outside linebacker, where the Bucs have Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker available elsewhere in the rotation.
There was better news elsewhere on Tampa Bay's report. Mayfield was a full participant despite an illness, while Jalen McMillan practiced fully despite his knee injury. Mayfield's illness was enough to push his usual Wednesday media availability to Thursday, but it didn't keep him off the practice field.
Cornerback Jacob Parrish was also a full participant after missing Tampa Bay's Week 2 loss with a back injury. Parrish started the opener against Cincinnati before suffering the injury, and getting him back would give the Bucs another option at outside cornerback after Benjamin Morrison started in his place against Cleveland.
Minnesota has some injury concerns of its own, including a notable name in the backfield.
Vikings injury report
Running back Aaron Jones was one of three Vikings who did not participate Wednesday, joining linebacker Jake Golday and punter Brett Thorson. Starting right tackle Brian O'Neill was limited with a knee injury, while four other Minnesota players also opened the week as limited participants.
It's still only Wednesday, so the Bucs' three DNPs don't tell us whether Bain, Nelson or Trotter will be available Sunday. Their participation Thursday and Friday should give a much better indication, with final game-status designations coming at the end of the practice week.
Tampa Bay hosts Minnesota at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Bucs enter Week 3 at 0-2 and are looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2014.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs injury report: 3 defenders miss practice ahead of Week 3
