The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are walking a fine line between patience and urgency. With the trade deadline looming, head coach Todd Bowles faces a tough question. Should the team make a move or trust that its injured stars will return in time to save the season? The answer, it seems, depends on timing, cost, and recovery.

The Bucs’ offense has taken a significant hit. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with running back Bucky Irving, have all been sidelined. Bowles didn’t mince words when asked about Tampa Bay’s approach to the trade deadline.

“The discussion is more, ‘How much do you have to give up to get somebody that you really want?’” he said. “That’ll be the discussion more or less going forward.” He added that while the team remains hopeful for some returns, they’ll keep all options on the table.

Evans’ broken collarbone has put him on injured reserve, and he’s expected to be out for six to eight weeks, which means he might return between Week 13 and Week 16. That’s a long wait for a team that’s already fighting to stay competitive in the NFC South.

As for Irving and Godwin, their recovery timelines are still unclear. Both were ruled out early for Week 8, suggesting they’re not close to being game-ready. Irving, who’s dealing with foot and shoulder injuries, has missed four games. The Week 9 bye could give him a chance to heal, but his sling indicates that Week 10 might still be a stretch. Godwin, who’s out with a fibula injury, hasn’t been placed on injured reserve, which hints that the Bucs are hopeful he could be back soon, possibly in Week 10 or 11.

Bowles said the team will check on the status of Luke Goedeke, Irving, and Godwin later this week to determine if they can resume limited practice. Until then, Tampa Bay’s front office faces a balancing act, waiting for health or paying the price to patch the holes.

Also, the latest win over New Orleans showcased both the Bucs’ resilience and their breaking point, not with their play, but with the officials.

Todd Bowles blasts officials after costly whistle erases Bucs’ defensive touchdown

What should’ve been a defensive touchdown by Antoine Winfield Jr. instead turned into another chapter in the NFL’s growing officiating controversy.

The incident unfolded in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints. Cornerback Jamel Dean stripped the ball loose, and Winfield scooped it up for what appeared to be a clean 47-yard score. Players kept running. Officials followed the play. Fans cheered. But then came the confusion. Referee Ron Torbert announced the play had been blown dead, erasing the touchdown.

“The official thought the runner was down,” Torbert later told a pool reporter. “We were able to award the defense the ball after the fumble, but because the whistle had been blown, we could not award the advance afterward.”

Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t hold back his frustration. “I’m still pissed off over some of it,” he said after Tampa Bay’s 23-3 win. “We’ve got to do something. We’ll discuss that with the league and go from there.” He added, “He said it was an erroneous whistle. As soon as he hit him, he stripped him, so I got no answers for that.”

Despite the blunder, Tampa Bay’s defense dominated, forcing four turnovers and holding New Orleans to just three points. The Bucs improved to 6-2 and extended their NFC South lead heading into the bye week.

But it wasn’t just the Bucs facing officiating issues. The Giants also had key plays negated by early whistles and questionable penalties. As the flags keep piling up, patience is wearing thin from the sidelines to the studios. And while Bowles’ team managed to secure a win, his message was clear: the NFL’s officiating issue persists.