Fresh off edging out the Texans (20-19) to move to 2-0, the Bucs‘ early buzz has been muted by a brutal injury report. As Buccaneers insider Greg Auman put it, the news is as grim as it gets: “Bucs guard Cody Mauch’s knee injury is significant enough he will require surgery that is expected to end his season.” This is a devastating blow.
Mauch, the ironman right guard who hadn’t missed a snap in his young career and allowed only one or fewer QB hits on over 1,000 snaps, is done for the year. Auman’s report drives the point home, highlighting the sheer scale of the problem: “Another major loss for the Bucs, now down three starting OLs in the short term.”
The O-line, a unit just finding its dominant stride, now resembles a MASH unit. The timeline is cruel: first, All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs was sidelined recovering from offseason knee surgery. Then, during the Texans’ win, right tackle Luke Goedeke (fresh off his new $90 million deal) goes down with a foot injury. And now, the anchor on the interior, Cody Mauch, is lost.
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The full Wednesday injury report paints a detailed picture:
Did Not Participate (DNP): WR Emeka Egbuka (Hip/Groin), T Luke Goedeke (Foot), DL Calijah Kancey (Pectoral), G Cody Mauch (Knee).
Limited Participation (LP): OLB Haason Reddick (Shoulder), WR Chris Godwin Jr. (Ankle), T Tristan Wirfs (Knee), LB SirVocea Dennis (Ankle).
Full Participation (FP): QB Baker Mayfield (Foot/Toe).
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The fact that Mauch finished the game on a significantly injured knee, a detail confirmed by film review, speaks volumes about his toughness. As observer Evan Closky noted a limp for 1.5 quarters of the contest and also said “wooo buddy this guy is a dawg just like Baker.” The fallout, however, as the injury list suggests, extends beyond just one side of the ball, and the replacements must step up.
Bucs’ next-man-up mentality tested as Mayfield faces Jets with shaken trenches
The Buccaneers also announced they are placing defensive lineman Calijah Kancey on injured reserve with a torn pectoral. The 2023 first-round pick was a disruptive force, leading the team in sacks last year (7.5) and forming a menacing tandem with Vita Vea.
His rare first-step quickness in the interior is simply irreplaceable. In his absence, the load falls to Greg Gaines and Elijah Roberts to step up in a rotation. As Head Coach Todd Bowles stated, “Everybody has to step up. We can’t replicate what Kancey can do for us… Everybody has to do their job.”
The focus now shifts to adapting. The Bucs signed veteran guard Dan Feeney off the Bills’ practice squad and are bringing in other options for workouts, including former Buc Sua Opeta.
The likely plan involves a major reshuffling, with Graham Barton potentially sliding to tackle and players like Ben Bredeson and newcomer Feeney being called upon to protect the franchise’s MVA: Baker Mayfield, as he said post-win, “We’ll take the wins for sure, but there’s a lot of stuff we can clean up.”
Mayfield’s vigour & sheer will were the catalysts for the comeback in Houston, especially his clutch fourth-and-10 scramble, but that will be even more critical behind a patched-up line.
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As Bowles described, “He has a good feel for the game… You cannot teach that.” The Jets offense has its own weapons in the rhythmic Breece Hall (leading the Jets in rushing yards, 136) and the dynamic Garrett Wilson (leading in receptions, 11). The challenge is monumental, but this is where culture is forged.
The Bucs’ perfect record remains, but it is now defended by a lineup of unknowns, ready to prove their mettle, as they ramp up to go against the Jets.