TAMPA - Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter is cleared to play Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium, Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed, but quarterback Baker Mayfield will not suit up after being ruled out with a right thumb injury.
Trotter, who missed Week Three with a shoulder injury sustained in the Cleveland game, made an immediate impression in his first two NFL games, recording 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one pick-six during the Buccaneers’ losses to the Bengals and Browns in Weeks One and Two. Bowles said Friday that Trotter is “good” for the Week Four contest.
Mayfield joins outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (groin/shoulder), tight end Ko Kieft (elbow) and cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) on the ruled-out list. Morrison’s absence was unexpected - the cornerback was healthy entering the week before developing the quad ailment at Thursday’s practice. “It happened at practice yesterday, the end of practice,” Bowles said. “He was tight. I’m not sure yet [on future games]. I just know he’s out this week.”
Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, who appeared on the injury report with calf and shoulder issues, is also cleared to play. “He’s fine,” Bowles said. “He’ll be good.”
With Mayfield sidelined, the Buccaneers’ passing game faces additional scrutiny - particularly the underuse of wide receiver Chris Godwin, who has been targeted just 11 times through three games, producing 10 catches for 111 yards. That pace is a sharp drop from 2024, when Godwin was tied for third in the NFL with 62 targets, led the league with 50 receptions, ranked second with 576 receiving yards and was tied for third with five touchdown receptions through the same stretch of the season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against Baltimore.
This season, Godwin ranks fifth on the team in targets, behind wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (20), tight end Cade Otton (17), running back Bucky Irving (15) and rookie wideout Ted Hurst (13). Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson acknowledged the team needs to do more to involve Godwin. “There’s times when, shoot, maybe he is the primary in the route and, again, all 11 [players], for football plays to work and for the execution to be at a high level, all things have to click at the right time,” Robinson said. “CG’s a stud. He’ll continue to do his thing, and if the ball finds him, which it will, naturally. Just with his savvy and all the things that he presents, the ball will find him eventually. We’ve got to get him rolling, for sure.”
Godwin’s career numbers against Green Bay offer some optimism: in four games against the Packers, including the playoffs, he has averaged nearly eight targets per game and totaled 22 catches for 337 yards. Sunday’s kickoff at Raymond James Stadium will be the Buccaneers’ first home game of the season.