The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without two members of their rookie class when they try to pick up their first win of the season against the Minnesota Vikings.
Outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Josiah Trotter will both miss Sunday's Week 3 matchup. Bain is dealing with a groin injury, while Trotter suffered a shoulder injury against Cleveland. Both rookies earned starting jobs to open the season and started Tampa Bay's first two games against Cincinnati and Cleveland.
Bucs Wire's River Wells noted that Trotter was initially listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report despite head coach Todd Bowles telling reporters that he would be out. The Buccaneers subsequently updated their official injury report to list Trotter as out alongside
Bain.
Bain did not practice at all this week, while Trotter returned to individual work Friday but wasn't cleared to play. Bowles provided some additional context on the severity of Trotter's shoulder injury after practice.
"It's a low-grade sprain," Bowles said. "It's probably a toleration thing. We'll see how he feels."
Trotter's absence leaves a significant hole in the middle of Tampa Bay's defense after a strong start to his NFL career. The second-round pick has recorded two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception through his first two games. His biggest play came in Week 1 when he intercepted Joe Burrow and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.
SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom are expected to see additional work alongside Alex Anzalone with Trotter unavailable. Bowles confirmed that both linebackers will see action against Minnesota. Dennis played nine defensive snaps after Trotter was injured against Cleveland, while Rozeboom has yet to take a defensive snap this season.
Bain's absence creates another opening on the edge. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft has started both games to begin his career, but Tampa Bay will now have to lean further into its outside linebacker depth.
Anthony Nelson, Al-Quadin Muhammad and David Walker are the options to work opposite Yaya Diaby, with all three potentially seeing increased playing time. Walker is coming off the first sack of his NFL career against Cleveland despite playing only nine defensive snaps.
Minnesota will be missing a pair of players as well. Center Nick Samac was ruled out with a knee injury, while punter Brett Thorson will miss the game with a right hamstring injury. Running back Aaron Jones progressed from missing Wednesday's practice with a knee injury to being a full participant Friday and did not receive a game designation.
Losing the first two selections from Tampa Bay's 2026 draft class creates another obstacle for a defense trying to find consistency. The 0-2 Buccaneers will have to earn their first win without two rookies who had already established themselves in prominent roles on the defense.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers rule out two rookie starters for Week 3 vs. Vikings
