Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Friday that starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, who has been out with a concussion since Week 1, has cleared the concussion protocol and barring any setbacks, will start Sunday at the Saints.
Bowles said that defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the Bucs' first-round draft pick in 2023, is set to return from a calf injury that has kept him out through the first five weeks of the season. Starting center Graham Barton, the team's first-round draft pick in 2024, will be out with a hamstring injury.
"Kancey was [a] full [participant this week] so he'll play," Bowles said. "[Antoine] Winfield was limited. He did a lot of things and that'll probably be a game time decision, but he is very close if he doesn't play, but hopefully he can get it."
Winfield Jr., an All-Pro safety who became the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history with a four-year, $84.1 million contract in May, has been out with a foot injury since Week 1. His replacement, Christian Izien, will be out due to both elbow and groin injuries, Bowles said.
Their other starting safety, Jordan Whitehead is also expected to play despite dealing with a groin injury, as Bowles said "he had two good days, so I feel good where he is right now."
Bowles said running back Rachaad White, who has been dealing with a foot injury, will be a "game-time decision."
Wide receiver Trey Palmer will miss his second straight game with a concussion and wide receiver Kam Johnson will be out with an ankle injury. The Bucs will get back Jalen McMillan, who missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Bowles acknowledged that missing five games for Goedeke will likely impact his conditioning but said, "He looks good. Obviously you can't tell him until the game because you only can do so much in practice, but he looks fresh, he looks healthy, so he's ready to go."
With Barton out, the Bucs will turn to Robert Hainsey, who started the last two seasons at center. Bowles called having him a "great luxury."
"He's very smart," Bowles said. "He's very tough and the guys are very comfortable with him down the line, so we have chemistry down there with him as well..."