It’s not “official” yet, but don’t expect Kwon Alexander and his bad hamstring to suit up against the Giants.

Joe has no problem typing this up after listening to defensive coordinator Mike Smith today.

Smith talked about Kendell Beckwith and how he’s playing sound football. Smith noted Beckwith got the communication helmet Sunday when Lavonte David left the game injured. That means Beckwith was the only guy available to hear the calls directly from Smith via the speaker in the helmet.

During today’s chatter, Smith seemed to tip his hand that Beckwith would wear the special helmet against the Giants.

“He’s going to be the guy that we’re going to count on for this week. He’s got a bigger role, potentially. He’s got, you know, have the communicator, and he’ll have it the entire game,” Smith said of Beckwith. “That communication is going to be paramount with the no-huddle that we’re anticipating seeing from the Giants.”

Follow the math here.

Kwon Alexander usually has the lone “communicator” and calls the defense. In his absence, Lavonte David got it. When he got hurt Sunday, a badly wrenched ankle, it went to Beckwith.

And now Smith says he’ll have it the entire game. That tells Joe the Bucs will play without David and Kwon on Sunday. Joe sniffed around a bit at One Buc Palace and is confident those linebackers won’t play, which is a huge blow to the defense.

On what the Bucs lose when Kwon is off the field, Joe asked Robert Ayers.

“We lose a great player. We lose a passionate player,” Ayers said. “You know a very, very passionate guy. He’s very demanding of his teammates. He’s a great player. We got other guys that are ready to step up, but it’s definitely tough losing him, but next man up.”