BRADENTON, Fla. – Defensive tackle Stacy McGee has been the best Raiders interior pass rusher this season. He has 2.5 sacks, just below Khalil Mack’s team-leading trio.
The Raiders haven’t gotten great pressure up the middle and must generate some without McGee on Sunday in Tampa Bay.
McGee was formally ruled out following Friday’s practice at IMG Academy, on the team’s official injury report.
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He was the only player ruled out of Sunday’s game. Everyone else listed on the injury report was considered questionable. That list includes offensive tackles Menelik Watson and Vadal Alexander, special teams players Brynden Trawick (shoulder) and Taiwan Jones (knee) and receiver Andre Holmes.
The Raiders are fairly healthy for this stage in the season, though McGee will be missed.
“Stacy has been playing really good football for us,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “He’s banged up this week. I think more likely next week for us with him. But yeah, next guy up. That’s what we do. So Darius Latham will play more, Denico (Autry) will play more, Big Dan (Williams) will play more. Those guys have to do their thing. We expect to play good defense and we know we got ourselves a challenge ahead.”
The interior defensive line has reinforcements on the way. Mario Edwards Jr. is inching closer to a return. The team brought him out to Florida this week, and while he hasn’t been seen during the open portions of practice, he is doing rehab work with trainers.
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“He’s just on the side,” Del Rio said. “Until we get the clearance for him to join us in practice, he’ll continue with the trainers. .. They haven’t given him the green light, so he’ll continue to work with them until then.”
Raiders Status Report
Out
DL Stacy McGee (knee)
Questionable
RB Taiwan Jones (knee), OT Menelik Watson (calf), S Brynden Trawick (shoulder), WR Andre Holmes (hip), RT Vadal Alexander (ankle)
Buccaneers Status Report
Out
RB Doug Martin (hamstring), DT Clinton McDonald (hamstring)
Questionable
DE Robert Ayres (ankle), C Joe Hawley (ankle), DT Gerald McCoy (calf)