Josiah Trotter misses a second straight practice with a sore shoulder

Josiah Trotter did not practice on Thursday, September 24, his second straight missed day with a shoulder injury, according to the Buccaneers' official injury report (Buccaneers.com). The rookie linebacker also sat out Wednesday, September 23, and the Friday report will set his status for Sunday's home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Key facts

• Josiah Trotter did not practice on Wednesday, September 23, or Thursday, September 24, with a shoulder injury, according to the Buccaneers' official injury reports (Buccaneers.com).
• Trotter left the 23-19 loss to Cleveland on September 20 while holding his shoulder, returned and finished the game (Yahoo Sports, September 20).
• Trotter led all players with 13 tackles against the Browns (Yahoo Sports, September 20; CBS Sports, September 22).
• Todd Bowles said the shoulder harness Trotter wears is not new: he has had it on all year, and the shoulder is sore (Sports Illustrated, September 23).
• Rueben Bain Jr. (groin) also missed both days, while Anthony Nelson (shin) went from did not participate on Wednesday to limited on Thursday (Buccaneers.com, September 24).
• The Buccaneers host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 27, at 4:05 PM ET, 22:05 CEST, on FOX.

How the shoulder got hurt

Trotter was hurt in the 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on September 20. He left the game temporarily while holding his shoulder, came back and finished, and still led all players with 13 tackles (Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports). It was the second straight game with double-digit tackles for a player who opened his career with 11 tackles in Cincinnati.

On Wednesday, Todd Bowles was asked about the harness Trotter wore in practice. Bowles said the harness is not new: "he's had that on the entire year," and the shoulder is sore (Sports Illustrated, September 23). Beyond that, the team has not described the injury.

The Buccaneers' practice report

Source: Buccaneers.com, September 24. Rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. has also missed two days, with a groin injury from the same Cleveland game; our Wednesday report on Bain has the background. Nelson, the backup outside linebacker, did return in a limited role.

Why Trotter matters this week

Trotter has been productive from his first snap. His debut in Cincinnati included an interception he returned for a touchdown, covered in Trotter's first interception, a pick six against the Bengals. Against Cleveland he led everyone on the field in tackles, and Tampa Bay is 0-2 while it looks for a first win.

Minnesota has Kyler Murray back at quarterback after he cleared the concussion protocol. The depth chart shows the Buccaneers' linebackers.

What comes next

Friday's practice report is the last one before the game and carries the game designations. Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is Sunday, September 27, at 4:05 PM ET, 22:05 CEST, on FOX; how to watch from Europe has the details.

For now the facts are short: a sore shoulder, two days off the practice field, and a rookie who finished Sunday's game and led it in tackles. Friday's report tells us what Sunday looks like.