The Buccaneers lost a pair of cornerbacks in the playoff clash with the Commanders

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are involved in a Sunday night late night with Washington commanders. But one that resulted in the Bucs losing two cornerbacks to injuries in their NFL playoff run.

Jamel Dean left with a knee injury. Then fellow CB Zion McCollum suffered a head injury. Dean officially turned offaccording to the Buccaneers’ communications department. McCollum has since been evaluated for a concussion.

Both defenders were not on the field during the Commander’s goal in the fourth quarter. Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin from five yards out to put Washington back up 20-17 with less than 9:50 left.

Dean and McCollum combined for five carries before leaving Raymond James Stadium. They watched as the Bucs tied the game at 20-20 with Chase McLaughlin’s 32-yard field goal with 4:41 left.

Are the cornerbacks back for the Buccaneers?

Tampa Bay operated without both veteran defenders. The likes of Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans tried to carry the Bucs the rest of the night. But the game ended in pulsating fashion.

Zane Gonzalez is ready for the last field goal. The right-footer watched his effort sail to the right – fearing the ball would miss the middle. But the ball bounced off the upright and then into the net. Gonzalez lifted Washington into the second round with his dramatic strike.

But that drive was made possible by Daniels. He engineered a 10-play, 51-yard drive after that McLaughlin field goal. That command vehicle ate up nearly all of the remaining 4:41 left in the race.

Daniels took advantage of TB not having Dean and McCollum. The rookie KB completed all three of his attempts during that drive, racking up 44 total yards through the air in that final sequence. Daniels picked backup CB Tavierre Thomas and safety Josh Hayes until the injured defenders could finish.

Tampa Bay loses its second Wild Card game in the last three playoffs. Washington now heads to the Motor City to face the top-seeded Detroit Lions next week in the divisional round.