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By the first half Sunday, the Bucs' patchwork offensive line resembled a preseason one. Center Robert Hainsey, one of two starting offensive linemen who also started the season opener, exited with a hamstring injury in the first half, forcing guard Nick Leverett to switch to center.
With left tackle Donovan Smith (foot) inactive and right tackle Tristan Wirfs (ankle) being held out, the line eventually comprised Leverett, left tackle Brandon Walton, left guard John Molchon, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Luke Goedeke. The action was the first in an NFL regular-season game for Molchon, primarily a practice-squad player the last three seasons.
Additionally, tight end Kyle Rudolph - who caught a first-quarter touchdown pass from Brady - also exited (knee) and was joined on the sideline in the second half by safety Keanu Neal (hip). Receiver Russell Gage appeared to injure his back on a 3-yard scoring catch from Blaine Gabbert late in the first half but walked off on his own.
Bowles had no immediate updates on Hainsey, Rudolph, Neal or Gage. Previously injured Bucs deemed inactive Sunday included Smith, cornerback Carlton Davis (shoulder), edge rusher Carl Nassib (pectoral), receiver Julio Jones (knee), nose tackle Vita Vea (calf), and safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring/hip) and Logan Ryan (knee).
"I don't know if Donovan would've been ready," Bowles said. "Vita could've played and Tristan could've played, but we wanted to give them an extra week to get better as opposed to just playing it week-by-week."
Joey Knight, The Tampa Bay Times, published 9 January 2023
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