Buccaneers OLB Kendell Beckwith is active for today's game against the Saints. He entered the day questionable with a knee issue. His playing time dipped to 78% and then 52% the past 2 weeks, with Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David both back to their usual roles. That makes Beckwith a low-level option at best. We'll see which playing time share he's closer to at full health. DE Robert Ayers (ankle) is also active and a similarly low-level IDP at best.

The Buccaneers have ruled CB Brent Grimes (shoulder) out for the 2nd straight game, which certainly only helps the Saints' passing game. DE Robert Ayers (ankle) and OLB Kendell Beckwith (knee) are questionable after limited practice weeks. Ayers has been playing through questionable tags for several weeks. Beckwith's issue is new. Neither is an IDP factor even if active.

The Buccaneers have ruled CBs Brent Grimes (shoulder) and Robert McClain (concussion) out for Sunday's game against the Panthers. That leaves an already poor-performing secondary without 2 of its top 3 corners. It's fair to wonder how much that actually hurts the Bucs, but it certainly can't help. The Tampa team D still carries turnover upside, but there's plenty of scoring downside as well.

The Buccaneers on Wednesday placed DE Noah Spence on IR with the shoulder injury that has hampered him for most of this season. The team signed veteran DE Darryl Tapp to fill Spence's roster spot.

All of the pertinent questionable Buccaneers' defensive players are active for today's game against the Bills. That means MLB Kwon Alexander (hamstring) will play for the 1st time since Week 1. It also means OLB Lavonte David (ankle), DE Robert Ayers (knee), DE Noah Spence (shoulder), S T.J. Ward (hip) and S Keith Tandy (hip) will be available. David and Alexander are the only 2 worthwhile IDP options among that crew.

Buccaneers DE Robert Ayers (back) and OLB Lavonte David (ankle) are active for today's game against the Cardinals. Each is fine to use as you normally would in IDP leagues. Ayers could be in his best position to far to land his 1st sack of the season. David returns after missing 2 games with an ankle sprain.

Bucs MLB Kwon Alexander will miss another game because of his Week 2 hamstring injury. Tampa Bay has ruled him out for Sunday's game at Arizona, despite limited practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Buccaneers have also ruled S T.J. Ward (hip) and S Keith Tandy (hip) out for the 2nd straight week. OLB Lavonte David is questionable for the game after putting in limited practices all week. He has been out since Week 3 with a sprained ankle. We'll see about his status Sunday. DE Robert Ayers is also questionable with a back issue. He put in a full practice Friday, though, after being limited the previous 2 days.

The Buccaneers have ruled MLB Kwon Alexander (hamstring) out for Thursday night's game against the Patriots. OLB Lavonte David (ankle) and S T.J. Ward (hip) are doubtful for the game. That leaves Kendell Beckwith as the Bucs LB to use for the 2nd straight week. Chris Conte remains the only Tampa safety playing enough snaps to earn a spot in IDP lineups.

As expected, the Buccaneers will be without LB Lavonte David (ankle) and S T.J. Ward (hip) for today's game against the Giants. Ward's absence makes Keith Tandy a solid IDP option. The Bucs will have DT Gerald McCoy (ankle), DE Noah Spence (shoulder) and DE Robert Ayers (knee). All are active after entering the day questionablr

The Buccaneers have ruled MLB Kwon Alexander (hamstring) out for Sunday's game against the Giants. OLB Lavonte David (ankle) is doubtful as well, leaving rookie LB Kendell Beckwith the only usable Bucs LB for IDP lineups. S T.J. Ward (hip) is also doubtful after missing practice all week. His likely absence puts S Keith Tandy in play for IDP owners. Tandy should see a full-time role for this weekend. Up front, DT Gerald McCoy (ankle), DE Noah Spence (shoulder) and DE Robert Ayers (knee) are questionable. We'd bet on all 3 playing, but we'll confirm the game statuses Sunday afternoon.

The Buccaneers' training staff believes LB Lavonte David suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Vikings, ESPN reports. X-rays at the stadium revealed no broken bones, but he'll have an MRI Monday to determine the injury's severity. DE Noah Spence will also get an MRI after suffering a separated shoulder in the game. Spence later returned, and it's the 3rd time he has separated the shoulder. Spence played through a torn labrum in the shoulder for much of last season and reportedly said he'll go back to wearing the shoulder brace he previously donned. Bucs DT Gerald McCoy re-aggravated a right ankle sprain and briefly left the Vikings game but returned to action.

The Buccaneers deemed DT Gerald McCoy questionable for Sunday's game at Minnesota. But the veteran progressed from not practicing Wednesday to limited participation Thursday and then full participation Friday. We'd bet on him playing. And after he registered 4 QB hits in the Week 2 win over the Bears, McCoy should be in many IDP lineups. The Bucs D carries attractive upside as well against a Case Keenum piloted Vikings offense. We'll confirm McCoy's status Sunday morning.

The Buccaneers have ruled MLB Kwon Alexander (hamstring) out for Sunday's game against the Vikings. Rookie LB Kendell Beckwith slid over from the strong side to fill in when Alexander left last week's game and figures to garner extra playing time with Alexander down in Week 3.

Buccaneers MLB Kwon Alexander left Sunday's game against the Bears in the 1st half with a hamstring injury and is doubtful to return. He dealt with hamstring trouble in the preseason, so this is a worrisome development. We'll keep an eye on the situation.

The NFL has decided that the Buccaneers and Dolphins won't play on Sunday because of Hurricane Irma. It's not yet clear when that game will happen, but if you have key players involved in that matchup and a waiver run tonight in your fantasy football league, then make sure that you're covered for Week 1.

ESPN's Josina Anderson reports that S T.J. Ward has agreed to a 1-year, $5 million deal with the Buccaneers. Ward probably won't be ready to start by Week 1, but that looks like starter money for 2017. We won't be surprised if Ward quickly begins to rotate in with starting safeties Chris Conte and Keith Tandy and then replaces 1 of them in the lineup. With Conte and Tandy working fairly interchangeably, Ward could step in for either. Tandy pushed Conte out of the lineup late last season, however. We'd bet on Conte losing playing time first.

Buccaneers MLB Kwon Alexander will miss Saturday's 3rd preseason game with a hamstring injury that kept him out for nearly the whole practice week. HC Dirk Koetter told the Tampa Tribune this week, however, that Alexander's hamstring "will be fine." So we're not moving him from his perch near the top of our 2017 IDP rankings.

The Buccaneers drafted Texas A&M S Justin Evans in the 2nd round Friday night. NFL Network's Mike Mayock said he expects Evans to start right away at FS, touting the player's coverage range and aggressiveness as a tackler. Multiple analysts have criticized his propensity for missing tackles, however. Evans should face a fairly clear path to playing time in a weak secondary that has struggled to find full-time safeties in recent years.

Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy (foot) is active for today's game against the Saints. The Bucs will be without DL William Gholston, though, who was ruled out earlier with an elbow injury.

Buccaneers S Chris Conte (chest) is questionable for Sunday's game at Dallas. DT Gerald McCoy (foot) and LB Lavonte David (hamstring) are as well. We'll check on the status for all 3 Sunday evening before the 8:25 p.m. kickoff. Conte put in full practices all week and appears likely to return. McCoy put in a full practice Friday and has been playing through questionable tags for a few weeks. David joined the injury report Thursday but put in another limited practice Friday.