Packers: Buccaneers will miss key defensive player in Week 3

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without key defensive player Akiem Hicks when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.

The Green Bay Packers know all too well how good Akiem Hicks is. He has played in 12 career games against Green Bay, having spent six seasons with the division-rival Chicago Bears.

However, Hicks won’t be available to play against the Packers this week due to injury.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hicks is expected to be sidelined for around a month after suffering a foot injury.

That means he will miss the Buccaneers’ home game against the Packers in Week 3.

Buccaneers without key players vs. Packers

Tampa Bay won’t just be missing Hicks, but also star wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been suspended for one game.

It’s also unclear whether wide receivers Chris Godwin and Julio Jones will be available for Week 3. They both missed the Buccaneers’ win over the New Orleans Saints due to injury.

Hicks’ injury could be significant news for this week’s game. The former Pro Bowler is still an excellent defensive lineman.

He has made five tackles and a quarterback hit in two games for the Buccaneers this season.

Hicks often draws double teams, and he would’ve created real problems for the Packers’ offensive line.

However, even with Hicks likely to miss this game, the Buccaneers’ defense will still give the Packers’ offense all sorts of problems in Week 3.

Tampa Bay leads the NFL in scoring defense, having allowed just 13 points in the opening two games. That’s an average of 6.5 points per game.

The Buccaneers have shut down two good offenses in games against the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

Green Bay’s offense improved in Week 2, but there were still far too many mistakes.

Hicks being out is significant, but the Buccaneers’ defense could still dominate this game.