Bucs at Bengals Gameday Inactives

by

The Bucs kickoff their 2026 season in Cincinnati (I spelled it correctly!). They are relatively healthy but will be without two of their offensive playmakers. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Sean Tucker will both be inactive due to injury. Joining them not dressing for the game are cornerback Ayden Garnes, guard Billy Schrauth, tackle Justin Skule and defensive linemen DeMonte Capehart and Elijah Simmons

Bucs Not Playing

The Bucs are leaning on experience with these moves. Schrauth, Garnes and Capehart are all rookies. The most disappointing of this list is Garnes, who had a fantastic training camp and preseason. But with Benjamin Morrison healthy and available it made sense for the team to lean on practice squad safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to round out the defensive backs room for this game.

Bucs CB Ayden Garnes – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

The Bucs have also decided to give a hat to all four of their rostered tight ends – Cade Otton, Payne Durham, KoKieft and Bauer Sharp. There are two ways to look at this. And both are probably true to varying degrees. 1) Look for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to lean into heavier personnel. The team is likely to use more two and three tight end looks in this game and 2) Sharp and Kieft are seen as strong members of the Bucs’ special teams corps and the team wanted them available to improve them in the third phase of the game.

Bengals Inactives

The Bengals are relatively healthy with just one key cog out for today’s game – defensive end Shemar Stewart, who was their first-round pick in 2025.

Leave a Comment