The Buccaneers upgraded three players after Wednesday's full practice. All three were offensive linemen. Right tackle and Ed Block Courage Award nominee Demar Dotson returned to a full capacity, as did center Ryan Jensen. Left tackle Donovan Smith, who missed the first start of his career last Sunday, practice for the first time since Week 14, albeit in a limited capacity.
Three players were removed from the injury report after both wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Jordan Whitehead now join wide receiver Scotty Miller on Injured Reserve. That makes for three of the Bucs' top four receivers now on IR to end their seasons early. Luckily, injuries didn't prevent Evans and Chris Godwin from getting Pro Bowl nods, announced last night, making them the first pair of Bucs receivers to make the Pro Bowl in the same year and the first pair of receivers from the same team since Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald with the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.
The Texans downgraded running back Carlos Hyde to a DNP designation due to his ankle injury. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was also added to the report, sidelined with an illness on Wednesday.
Read below for the full injury report for both teams:
Buccaneers
DL Beau Allen (ankle) – Did Not Participate
T Demar Dotson (not injury related) – Full Participation
K Matt Gay (right groin) – Limited Participation
WR Chris Godwin (hamstring) – Did Not Participate
TE Tanner Hudson (concussion) – Did Not Participate
C Ryan Jensen (elbow) – Full Participation
OLB Anthony Nelson (hamstring) – Full Participation
OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee) – Full Participation
LT Donovan Smith (ankle/knee) – Limited Participation
QB Jameis Winston (right thumb/knee) – Limited Participation
Texans
S Jahleel Addae (Achilles) – Limited Participation
TE Darren Fells (hand) – Limited Participation
WR Will Fuller V (hamstring) – Limited Participation
WR DeAndre Hopkins (illness) – Did Not Participate
RB Carlos Hyde (ankle) – Did Not Participate
RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring) – Limited Participation
OLB Jacob Martin (knee) – Did Not Participate
ILB Bernardrick McKinny (concussion) – Did Not Participate
OLB Brennan Scarlett (Achilles/shoulder) – Limited Participation
*Bold indicates change in status from previous day
