NFL Player News

Tucker rushed four times for seven yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also returned two kickoffs for 42 yards.

Tucker logged three more touches than Rachaad White behind Bucky Irving, who lapped the Buccaneers' running backs with 16 carries. The third-year back was extremely inefficient in a limited sample, but Tucker did manage to score for the second straight game on a one-yard run to cap off an 11-play drive late in the first quarter. The usage of Tucker and White behind Irving remains hard to predict on a game-to-game basis, capping the upside of both reserve backs heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

White rushed once for 20 yards and brought in his only target for six yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

White surprisingly was limited to his lowest touch count of the season, just four days after gaining an efficient 53 yards on 11 carries against the Saints. The veteran back was even out-touched by Sean Tucker, who logged three more carries and recorded a rushing touchdown. The usage behind Bucky Irving has been a bit haphazard over a limited sample this season, so White could revert to a more typical workload in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

McMillan (neck) brought in both targets for 38 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Making his long-awaited season debut following his recovery from a preseason neck injury, McMillan looked good while bringing in a pair of 19-yard grabs. One of those catches was originally ruled a 20-yard touchdown reception that was overturned on replay, when it was determined McMillan hadn't broken the plane of the goal line. The second-year wideout will have a chance to build on what was an encouraging initial performance when the Bucs travel to Carolina for a key Week 16 clash with the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Godwin brought in four of five targets for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also recorded a two-point conversion catch.

Godwin tied for second in receptions on the night for the Buccaneers, even with both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan being active, and despite his very modest yardage total, he still delivered a serviceable fantasy night thanks to his three-yard TD grab and ensuing two-point conversion catch early in the fourth quarter. The TD was Godwin's first of the season, and he's now accumulated nine receptions over his last two games heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Sills secured six of 10 targets for 78 yards in the Falcons' 29-28 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night.

Sills finished third across the board in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Falcons on what was a banner night for the air attack, putting together a career-best effort in the process. The veteran West Virginia product continued to play an expanded role due to the absence of Drake London (knee), but Sills could be due for a reduction in opportunity in a Week 16 road matchup against the Cardinals that the former could be ready to suit up for.

Egbuka brought in four of seven targets for 64 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Egbuka tied for second in receptions while also checking in as the runner-up in receiving yards and targets to the returning Mike Evans. Thursday marked the first time the Buccaneers' top four receivers -- Evans, Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan -- played together, but Egbuka's target tally took only a slight hit from that of his previous four contests, when he'd drawn between eight and nine looks from Baker Mayfield. Egbuka also recorded multiple catches of 20-plus yards (two) for the first time since Week 10, and he'll aim to continue capitalizing on the reduced defensive attention in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Irving rushed 16 times for 60 yards and brought in one of three targets for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

As his final rushing line implies, Irving was largely held in check by a feisty Falcons front seven, leading to his third straight game averaging under 4.0 yards per carry. Irving was the unquestioned lead back, outpacing Rachaad White by a whopping 15 carries and logging 12 more rush attempts than Sean Tucker as well, though it's worth noting that the Bucs were in the red zone three times Thursday, and Tucker was typically the running back on the field when they were. Irving's reception total was also his lowest of the season, and he'll look to atone against the Panthers on the road in a key Week 16 matchup on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Mayfield completed 19 of 34 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding one rush for one yard in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.

Mayfield clawed his way to an impressive yardage total despite finding himself under constant pressure, taking five sacks and seven official hits overall. The veteran signal-caller did clearly benefit from the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve, as the duo accounted for 170 total receiving yards, with 132 of those coming from Evans. Mayfield's one interception was also particularly critical to the outcome, as it came with 8:28 remaining at the Falcons' 33-yard line and ultimately led to an Atlanta touchdown that narrowed what had been a 28-20 deficit. On the brighter side, Mayfield's yardage total was his best since Week 5, and he'll aim to keep the Buccaneers' playoff hopes afloat with a more efficient performance in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Cousins completed 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Falcons' 29-28 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Cousins' what-year-is-this performance was worthy of a double take, considering the veteran signal-caller had looked like he'd regressed considerably in his previous four starts and two in-game cameos prior to Thursday night. He had embarrassed the Buccaneers secondary last season in an unforgettable 509-yard, four-touchdown TNF performance as well, and this latest prolific effort went largely through tight end Kyle Pitts, who was on the receiving end of 11 of Cousins' completions totaling 166 yards and also recorded all three receiving touchdowns on the night. Cousins' performance was all the more noteworthy considering the absence of Drake London (knee), and it certainly brightens the outlook for the Falcons' air attack heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 21 that the talented wideout should have a good chance of being ready for.

Evans (collarbone) brought in six of 12 targets for 132 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Taking the field for the first time since Week 7, Evans looked as good as head coach Todd Bowles had reported the star receiver had during this week's practices. Evans made his first catch for a gain of 12 yards on the Buccaneers' second drive, and he went on to add noteworthy gains of 12 and 33 yards later in the first half. On Tampa Bay's first possession after halftime, the perennial Pro Bowler would go on to add a 45-yard grab, which accounted for half of the yards on a drive that culminated in a Devin Culp six-yard touchdown catch. Evans' receptions, receiving yards and targets were all season highs, and he'll aim to carry over the momentum into a Week 16 divisional road clash against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.