Vita Vea, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first-round pick in the 2018 draft, could make his NFL debut on Sunday in Chicago.
Notably, the Buccaneers' final injury report of the week, released Friday afternoon, did not rule Vea out for the team's fourth game of the season. Vea suffered a calf injury on the third day of training camp and did not return to practice until after Tampa Bay had opened the regular season with wins over New Orleans and Philadelphia. Though he practiced in limited fashion for three days leading up to the Monday night game against Pittsburgh, he was officially ruled out on the injury report that Saturday.
Vea was also limited in practice for the first two days of this week but was upgraded to full participation on Friday. After that practice, Head Coach Dirk Koetter left the door open for his rookie lineman to suit up on Sunday.
"He does have a chance," said Koetter. "He does."
The Buccaneers added rookie cornerback Carlton Davis to the official report on Friday with a groin injury. His status for Sunday's game is now questionable. In addition, rookie safety Jordan Whitehead, who was already on the injury report with a shoulder issue, has now added a hamstring ailment, and he is also questionable. With four of their 10 defensive backs now listed on the report, the Buccaneers could encounter depth issues in the secondary on Sunday.
Chicago has already ruled three players out, including starting cornerback Prince Amukamara and rookie wide receiver Anthony Miller. Miller is third among Bears wideouts with eight catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Amukamara has one of the Bears' five interceptions and a team-high three passes defensed.
See below for the full injury report:
Buccaneers
DT Beau Allen (foot) – Did Not Participate – Out
CB Carlton Davis (groin) – Limited Participation - Questionable
DT Vita Vea (calf) – Full Participation - Questionable
S Jordan Whitehead (shoulder/hamstring) – Limited Participation - Questionable
CB Marcus Williams (hamstring) – Full Participation - Questionable
T Demar Dotson (knee) – Full Participation
S Isaiah Johnson (shoulder) – Full Participation
DT Gerald McCoy (biceps) – Full Participation
Bears
CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) – Did Not Participate – Out
CB Marcus Cooper (hamstring) – Did Not Participate – Out
WR Anthony Miller (shoulder) – Did Not Participate – Out
