Rueben Bain Jr. is ruled out for the Vikings with a groin injury

Update, September 25: Rueben Bain Jr. is out for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Buccaneers' final injury report of Week 3 lists him as out after he did not practice on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, and linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder) is out as well (Buccaneers.com, Pro Football Talk, September 25).

Key facts

• Rueben Bain Jr. did not practice on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and is officially out for Sunday's game against the Vikings (Buccaneers.com, September 25).
• Todd Bowles said Bain suffered the groin injury in the 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on September 20; Bain played through it (Pro Football Talk, September 24).
• Linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder) is also out, and SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom will share the inside linebacker snaps (Yahoo Sports, September 25).
• Outside linebacker Anthony Nelson (shin) went from did not participate on Wednesday to limited on Thursday to full on Friday (Buccaneers.com, September 25).
• Bain has one tackle on 76 defensive snaps through two games (Pro Football Talk, September 25).
• The Buccaneers, 0-2, host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 27, at 4:05 PM ET, 22:05 CEST, on FOX.

Bain did not practice on Wednesday, September 23, the first practice of the week, and Todd Bowles said he got hurt in the 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on September 20 (Pro Football Talk, Yahoo Sports). Bain played through it and finished the game (Pewter Report). Sunday will be the first game of his NFL career that he misses.

It is the second injury of Bain's young career. He carried an AC joint sprain in his shoulder out of the summer, and on September 21 Bowles said he did not think the rookie was completely healthy. BucsWorld covered that in Rueben Bain Jr. is not completely healthy, Bowles says after a second quiet game. Through two games, Bain has one tackle on 76 defensive snaps (Pro Football Talk).

Buccaneers injury report, Friday

Source: Buccaneers.com, September 25.

What it means for the pass rush

On the Week 2 depth chart, Al-Quadin Muhammad is listed behind Bain, and Anthony Nelson is the backup behind Yaya Diaby on the other side, with David Walker third. JoeBucsFan expects Walker, in his second year, to get a large share of the snaps. Nelson, who missed Wednesday with a shin injury, was a full participant on Friday. The full depth chart has both units.

The timing is awkward. Minnesota's defense under Brian Flores has sent an extra rusher on nearly 80 percent of its snaps, and Tampa Bay has to pressure Kyler Murray, who was cleared to start in Week 3, without its first-round pick (Buccaneers.com game preview).

Trotter also out

Trotter hurt his shoulder against Cleveland, missed a few snaps and returned to finish the game. He was limited on Friday, but the team still ruled him out. Bowles said SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom will both play inside linebacker depending on the package, and Alex Anzalone stays in the linebacker group (Yahoo Sports). Trotter already has an interception this season: his pick six at Cincinnati. Our Trotter update has the details.

Vikings injury report, Friday

Source: Buccaneers.com, September 25. Tackle Christian Darrisaw (rest) did not practice on Friday and safety Harrison Smith (rest) was limited, and neither has a game status.

What comes next

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 a team that is 0-2, the loss of both rookie starters on defense is a real cost. Bain has one tackle in two games, but the edge rotation now leans on Diaby and a group of backups against the most blitz-heavy defense in the league.