Two Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stars To Be Game-Time Decisions in Week 3

A couple of key players' availabilities will come down to the wire for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Head coach Todd Bowles announced at his Friday press conference that wide receiver Julio Jones and left tackle Donovan Smith will be game-time decisions for the team's crucial matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Todd Bowles said Julio Jones will probably be a game-time decision against the Packers. Donovan Smith didn’t practice today but Bowles said it wasn’t a setback. They just wanted to give him some rest
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) September 23, 2022

Jones and Smith both sustained injuries in the Bucs' Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and were inactive Week 2 as a result. Details have been scarce on Jones' injury, but he was considered a game-time decision last week before missing the matchup. Smith hyperextended his elbow in the first half against the Cowboys and returned to practice earlier this week.

A multi-game injury rearing its head this early in the season for Jones would prove disappointing if not unexpected. Jones flashed his enormous potential in limited snaps Week 1, hauling in three of his five targets for 69 yards, but unavailability has become the norm for the wide receiver: he's missed 14 games since 2019. Given the continued absence of wide receiver Chris Godwin and the one-game suspension of Mike Evans, the Bucs find themselves in the unenviable position of needing Jones to potentially start in Week 3. Similarly, Smith's return to the offensive line could be essential considering the injury to his backup Josh Wells. Both players contributing could go a long way to helping the Bucs top the Packers on Sunday.