KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Buccaneers faced a challenging night as quarterback Baker Mayfield found himself missing another key wide receiver ahead of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Jalen McMillan was officially ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

The situation was compounded for Mayfield as he was already without Chris Godwin, who is sidelined on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and Mike Evans, who had also been ruled out due to ongoing hamstring issues. This absence of key players left the Buccaneers in a tight spot as they prepared to take on the Chiefs in the wet conditions of Arrowhead Stadium.

Despite these setbacks, Mayfield could turn to Sterling Shepard, who had recovered from his own hamstring troubles and was set to play. The Buccaneers’ offense, ranked fourth in the league, also included Bucky Irving, who made it to the field despite having been limited in practice with a toe issue.

In a bid to bolster their lineup, the Buccaneers activated Vi Jones and wide receiver Marquez Callaway from their practice squad. However, several players remained inactive due to various injuries, including defensive tackle Greg Gaines (calf injury), tight end Devin Culp, guard Royce Newman, and linebackers Antonio Grier and Jose Ramirez.

The Chiefs also faced injury challenges, having ruled out wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had been dealing with a hamstring situation over the last couple of weeks. Additionally, the team placed tight end Jared Wiley on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL during practice earlier in the week.

Kansas City had its own list of inactive players, such as Nazeeh Johnson, who is recovering from a concussion. Joining him on the sideline were running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, offensive linemen C.J. Hanson and Ethan Driskell, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, and defensive end Mike Danna, who has been hampered by a pectoral injury despite practicing.

To face the Buccaneers, the Chiefs elevated wide receiver Justyn Ross and cornerback Nic Jones from their practice squad, aiming to mitigate the impact of the injuries. The unfolding game promised to be a test of depth and resilience for both teams under challenging conditions.