Buccaneers inactives vs. Vikings: Bain and Trotter out, Parrish returns

The Buccaneers released their official inactive list for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings at 2:35 PM ET on September 27, 2026, ruling out six players. The two injury inactives were already expected from Friday's report: rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (groin) and rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder), the team's first two draft picks in 2026, both missed every practice last week.

Key facts

• The Buccaneers released their official inactive list for the Vikings game at 2:35 PM ET on September 27, 2026, ruling out six players (Buccaneers.com).
• Rookies Rueben Bain Jr. (groin) and Josiah Trotter (shoulder) are inactive, as expected after both missed all three practices last week (Buccaneers.com, September 25 and 27).
• Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches is inactive with an ankle injury he suffered during pregame warmups (Buccaneers.com, September 27).
• Cornerback Jacob Parrish is active, returning after missing one game with a back injury (Buccaneers.com, September 27).
• The Buccaneers elevated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the practice squad, his third and final elevation of the regular season (Buccaneers.com, September 27).
• Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is 4:05 PM ET, 22:05 CEST (Buccaneers.com).

The surprise came from the warmup line. Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches was ruled out with an ankle injury he suffered during pregame warmups, adding a third defensive lineman-area absence to a roster already missing Bain up front.

The other three Buccaneers inactives are healthy scratches: cornerback Ayden Garnes, guard Luke Haggard and guard Billy Schrauth, a normal part of gameday roster management rather than injury news.

Parrish returns, Melifonwu elevated

Cornerback Jacob Parrish is active after missing one game with a back injury, giving the secondary a boost for a Vikings offense that has to move the ball against a Tampa Bay defense down two rookie starters. To fill out the roster, the Buccaneers elevated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the practice squad, his third and final elevation of the regular season under the NFL's elevation rules.

Trotter had led the Buccaneers defense with 21 tackles through two games before his shoulder injury against Cleveland, and Bain had one tackle on 76 defensive snaps. Their absences again shift the workload to the edge and linebacker rotations behind them; BucsWorld covered the Friday injury report and what it means for the pass rush in Rueben Bain Jr. is ruled out for the Vikings with a groin injury. The full depth chart shows who lines up behind both rookies.

Vikings side

Minnesota did not publish a formal inactive list before this article went to press, but punter Brett Thorson (hamstring) and center Nick Samac (knee) were already ruled out on Friday's injury report, released jointly with the Buccaneers on September 25.

What it means

Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is 4:05 PM ET, 22:05 CEST. BucsWorld previewed the matchup, including Minnesota's blitz-heavy defense under Brian Flores, in our Week 3 preview.

For an 0-2 team trying to find its footing, the final list is a wash: the two rookies confirmed out, but Parrish back to shore up the secondary. Tampa Bay takes the field short-handed up front and hopes the return in the defensive backfield evens the ledger.