Tampa Bay Buccaneers Keep informed with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Bucs regular season Scott Smith Lavonte David

#54 ILB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 233 lbs College: Nebraska

Oct 29 Updates

Inside linebacker Lavonte David got in a full practice on Friday for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in the Bucs’ Week Five win over Miami but is still considered questionable to suit up for Sunday’s Week Eight game in New Orleans. David was joined in that questionable category by cornerback Dee Delaney, tight end Rob Gronkowski, outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul and cornerback Richard Sherman. Gronkowski and Sherman were limited in practice on Friday while Delaney and Pierre-Paul were held out for the third day in a row. Shoulder and hand injuries also kept Pierre-Paul off the practice field last week but he still played in last Sunday’s win over Chicago.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ final injury report of Week Eight.

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O.J. Howard

#80 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 251 lbs College: Alabama

Oct 28 Updates

The Buccaneers didn’t get Rob Gronkowski back to full participation in practice on Thursday but there was some good news at the tight end position. Tight end O.J. Howard, who has taken on a much bigger role in the offense in the four games that Gronkowski has missed with fractured ribs, was full-go after being limited by an ankle injury on Wednesday.

Gronkowski, Lavonte David and Richard Sherman all held steady at “limited participation” in Thursday’s practice, which keeps the status for all three in doubt in regards to Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ Thursday injury report.

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Antonio Brown

#81 WR

Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 lbs College: Central Michigan

Oct 27 Updates

The Buccaneers saw key regulars Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski and Richard Sherman return to practice on Wednesday after all have missed at least one game – four for Gronkowski – but wide receiver Antonio Brown remained sidelined with an ankle injury that Head Coach Bruce Arians says is actually affecting the heel area. Brown had a crutch with him as he watched practice Wednesday and Arians said he didn’t yet know if Brown would return to action after the bye or be out for a longer period of time.

CLICK HERE for more on Wednesday’s injury report. CLICK HERE to hear Arians’ thoughts on Brown and the other injured players.

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Jose Borregales

#19 K

Height: 5-10 Weight: 206 lbs College: Miami

Oct 26 Updates

The Bucs submitted their list of protected practice squad players for Week Eight on Tuesday afternoon. For the seventh week in a row, rookie kicker Jose Borregales is on the list, but the team also added recently-signed cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson to the group, perhaps due to a run of injuries at that position.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ Week Eight protection list.

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Lavonte David

#54 ILB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 233 lbs College: Nebraska

Oct 25 Updates

The Buccaneers could be getting some reinforcements in the lineup as they prepare for a crucial game against their division rivals in New Orleans. On Monday, Head Coach Bruce Arians sounded a cautiously optimistic note as he discussed the potential return of several injured regulars, in particular mentioning linebacker Lavonte David, tight end Rob Gronkowski and cornerback Richard Sherman.

“I would hope that Gronk could be ready to go, Lavonte could be ready to go, maybe even Sherm, we’ll see. I’m trying to think who else might be…hopefully the guys that were injured yesterday can go.”

CLICK HERE to watch the video of Arians’ Monday press conference, in which he also discussed the Saints and Tampa Bay’s rushing attack.

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Cyril Grayson

#15 WR

Height: 5-9 Weight: 183 lbs College: LSU

Oct 23 Updates

With Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski out for the Bucs’ Week Seven game against Chicago, the team used its two practice squad elevation options to add game day depth to the receiver and tight end positions. Wideout Cyril Grayson was elevated for game day for the first time this season while tight end Deon Yelder was brought up for the third time, including once as a COVID replacement.

CLICK HERE for more details on the Bucs’ Week Seven elevations.

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Rob Gronkowski

#87 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 265 lbs College: Arizona

Oct 22 Updates

Tight end Rob Gronkowski is still not ready to return to action after suffering rib fractures in Week Three at Los Angeles. Gronkowski will miss his fourth straight game and is one of four Bucs who were ruled out for Sunday’s tilt against Chicago at Raymond James Stadium. Also sitting out in Week Seven will be wide receiver Antonio Brown, inside linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Richard Sherman.

CLICK HERE for a closer look at the Bucs’ final injury report of Week Seven.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

#31 S

Height: 5-9 Weight: 203 lbs College: Minnesota

Safety Antoine Winfield,Jr. exited the NFL’s concussion protocol on Thursday, clearing him to return to game action on Sunday against Chicago. Winfield was unlimited in practice during the week after missing the previous two games due to the concussion he sustained against New England in Week Four.

CLICK HERE for Head Coach Bruce Arians’ updates on Winfield and more on Friday.

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O.J. Howard

#80 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 251 lbs College: Alabama

Oct 21 Updates

The Buccaneers’ second injury report of the week didn’t have many changes – Antonio Brown, Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Pierre-Paul and Richard Sherman all remained out – but tight end O.J. Howard did see his status improve. Howard, who is coming off his most productive game of the season so far and is taking up most of the snaps left out there by Gronkowski’s absence, practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday after being held out on Wednesday. Safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., who has missed two games with a concussion, also practiced fully for the second day in a row.

CLICK HERE for more on the Buccaneers’ Thursday injury report.

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Lavonte David

#54 ILB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 233 lbs College: Nebraska

Oct 20 Updates

Head Coach Bruce Arians said on Tuesday that he had his “fingers crossed” that two or three of the players on the team’s lengthy injury list might recover sufficiently to be able to play on Sunday against the Bears. On Wednesday, Arians revealed, somewhat surprisingly, that inside linebacker Lavonte David was one of the names on that list of two or three players.

David has missed one game so far after sustaining a high ankle sprain in a Week Five win over Miami, an injury that seemed likely to keep him out for several games, and still could. However, Arians provided some optimism on Wednesday that David could be back in the mix sooner rather than later.

CLICK HERE for more on Lavonte David’s status and other new developments at Bucs headquarters.

Antonio Brown

#81 WR

Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 lbs College: Central Michigan

The Buccaneers’ first injury report of Week Seven was released on Wednesday and it included six players who were held out of practice completely. The two more unexpected names on that list were those of wide receiver Antonio Brown and tight end O.J. Howard, both of whom have ankle injuries apparently sustained in last Thursday’s game in Philadelphia. Brown had been on the injury report in previous weeks, two, but with a knee ailment, making this a new development. Howard had not previously been on the report.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at Wednesday’s injury report.

John Molchon

#75 G

Height: 6-5 Weight: 309 lbs College: Boise State

John Molchon wasn’t gone long. After being activated from injured reserve on Monday and then waived on Tuesday, the second-year guard came back to the AdventHealth Training Center on Wednesday as the newest member of the practice squad. That series of events is almost the exact same path that Molchon followed last year in his rookie season after signing as an undrafted free agent.

The Buccaneers released WR Travis Jonsen to clear a spot on the 16-man practice squad for Molchon.

CLICK HERE for more on Tampa Bay’s most recent practice squad maneuvers.

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Cyril Grayson

#15 WR

Height: 5-9 Weight: 183 lbs College: LSU

Oct 19 Updates

On Tuesday, the Buccaneers submitted their list of players to protect on the practice squad in Week Seven and for the first time that list includes wide receiver Cyril Grayson. The speedy Grayson has played in five games over the past two seasons for the Buccaneers, making one catch.

The Bucs also protected kicker Jose Borregales, safety Troy Warner and tight end Deon Yelder. No team may sign any of those four players off the Bucs’ practice squad between now and the end of Sunday’s game against Chicago.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ Week Seven protection list.

Jaydon Mickens

#85 WR

Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 lbs College: Washington

As it turned out, the Buccaneers’ round of roster moves on Monday in Week Seven were only half of the story. After activating guard John Molchon from injured reserve on Monday, the team waived him on Tuesday in order to open a spot for cornerback Rashard Robinson. Robinson, who was out of practice squad elevation options, was promoted from the practice squad to give the Bucs’ banged-up cornerback position a little more depth. That promotion created an opening on the 16-man practice squad that was used to bring back wide receiver Jaydon Mickens, who had been released the day before.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ second round of roster moves this week.

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John Molchon

#75 G

Height: 6-5 Weight: 309 lbs College: Boise State

Oct 18 Updates

After a long weekend that followed their Thursday night win in Philadelphia, the Buccaneers began Week Seven with a quartet of roster moves, two each on the active roster and practice squad. Second-year guard John Molchon, who spent the majority of his 2020 rookie season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad was activated off of injured reserve, giving the Bucs 10 offensive linemen on their 53-man roster. Wide receiver Jaydon Mickens was released to make room, possibly giving rookie Jaelon Darden a shot to take over the punt and kickoff return jobs.

The Buccaneers also added yet another veteran cornerback to a position that has been hounded by injuries, most recently Richard Sherman’s hamstring pull in Philly. The newest man in the room is eighth-year veteran Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who had three interceptions for the Falcons last season.

CLICK HERE for more details on all of Monday’s roster moves.

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Ryan Jensen

#66 C

Height: 6-4 Weight: 319 lbs College: Colorado State-Pueblo

Oct 14 Updates

The three players listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report were all cleared for action against the Eagles on Thursday night in Philadelphia. Center Ryan Jensen, defensive linemen Patrick O’Connor and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul were all on the injury report this week but all were able to practice fully on Wednesday. O’Connor returns after missing one game; before that, he had appeared on 91% of the Bucs’ special teams snaps.

Lavonte David, Rob Gronkowski and Antoine Winfield, Jr. were all declared inactive Thursday night, as expected.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ Thursday inactive decisions.

Deon Yelder

#82 TE

Height: 6-4 Weight: 255 lbs College: Western Kentucky

With Rob Gronkowski ruled out for a third straight game, the Buccaneers used a practice squad elevation option on Thursday to bring up tight end Deon Yelder. The fourth-year player, who spent the last three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, was also elevated in Week Three to play against the Rams.

CLICK HERE for more details on the Bucs’ Week Six practice squad elevation decisions.

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Lavonte David

#54 ILB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 233 lbs College: Nebraska

Oct 13 Updates

Inside linebacker Lavonte David will see his streak of 42 consecutive starts come to an end on Thursday night, as he has been ruled out for the Week Six game at Philadelphia due to an ankle injury. Kevin Minter will step into the starting lineup next to inside linebacker Devin White. Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) will also miss his third straight game while safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. will be out for the second week in a row.

Tom Brady, who was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday by a right thumb injury, was a full participant on Wednesday and did not receive a game-status designation on the injury report, meaning he is good to go on Thursday night.

CLICK HERE for a closer look at the Buccaneers’ lengthy Week Six injury report.

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Rob Gronkowski

#87 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 265 lbs College: Arizona

Oct 12 Updates

Tampa Bay’s second injury report of Week Six was mostly unchanged, and that included tight end Rob Gronkowski missing another practice due to his ribs injury. Gronkowski has sat out the last two games and Head Coach Bruce Arians said his chances of returning for the Thursday night contest in Philadephia would be “very, very close.” Meanwhile, center Ryan Jensen returned to practice in a limited fashion on Tuesday and special teams ace Patrick O’Connor was upgraded to full participation.

CLICK HERE for more on the Buccaneers’ 12-man injury report in Week Six.

Codey McElroy

#86 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 258 lbs College: Southeastern Oklahoma State

The Buccaneers protected the same four players on the practice squad that they did in Week Five: kicker Jose Borregales, tight end Codey McElroy, cornerback Rashard Robinson and safety Troy Warner. McElroy and Robinson were also elevated from the practice squad for the past two games, though that is the maximum number of times that can be done with a specific player, apart from separate elevations to replace players on the COVID list.

CLICK HERE for the details on this week’s practice squad protections.

Tom Brady

#12 QB

Height: 6-4 Weight: 225 lbs College: Michigan

Quarterback Tom Brady met with the media on Tuesday morning and generally expressed confidence that his sore right thumb wouldn’t keep him from performing at his usual level on Thursday night in Philadelphia. Brady had his right hand taped but said he doesn’t “anticipate having a problem” against the Eagles.

CLICK HERE for more on Brady’s sore thumb and his preparations for Thursday’s game.

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Antoine Winfield Jr.

#31 S

Height: 5-9 Weight: 203 lbs College: Minnesota

Oct 11 Updates

The Bucs went right back to work on Monday after their win over the Dolphins on Sunday, and since the next game is Thursday night in Philadelphia, they had to produce an official injury report as well. Tampa Bay trainers have a lot to work on in the short week leading up to the Eagles game, as the Week Six injury report is a season-high 12 players long. It rather notably includes quarterback Tom Brady, who banged his thumb on the helmet of a Dolphins player in Sundays’ victory. The Bucs held a walk-through in lieu of a practice Monday but Head Coach Bruce Arians said Brady would have been somewhat limited had it been a full-speed session. Second-year safety Antoine Winfield was also listed as limited on Monday but that’s a step in the right direction in his case as he tries to exit the NFL’s concussion protocol before Thursday night.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ first injury report of Week Six.

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Cam Gill

#49 OLB

Height: 6-3 Weight: 240 lbs College: Wagner

Oct 8 Updates

The Buccaneers activated Cam Gill from injured reserve on Saturday, making him eligible to play in Sunday’s game against Miami. Gill had been sidelined for much of training camp with a calf injury, which sent him to IR after he was initially kept through the final round of cuts for the regular season. Gill played in 12 games as an undrafted rookie last season and saw extensive action on special teams. There was a spot open for Gill on the 53-man roster if Carlton Davis was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

The Buccaneers also elevated TE Codey McElroy and cornerback Rashard Robinson from the practice squad for the second straight week. They are also eligible to play against the Dolphins on Sunday.

CLICK HERE for more on Cam Gill’s activation. CLICK HERE for additional details on the practice squad elevations in Week Five.

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Rob Gronkowski

#87 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 265 lbs College: Arizona

Oct 8 Updates

The Buccaneers will be without tight end Rob Gronkowski for a second straight game this Sunday and will also be missing starting safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. and special teams ace Patrick O’Connor. In addition, running back Giovani Bernard, cornerback Jamel Dean and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul are all considered questionable to suit up against the Miami Dolphins.

Gronkowski suffered rib fractures in Week Three at Los Angeles and did not get to make his much-anticipated homecoming to New England last Sunday night. Winfield sustained a concussion in that Patriots game while O’Connor went down with a calf injury. Of the Bucs’ three questionable players, only Pierre-Paul, who didn’t play in the previous two games due to shoulder and hand injuries, was limited in practice on Friday.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs’ final injury report of Week Five.

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Carlton Davis III

#24 CB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 206 lbs College: Auburn

Oct 7 Updates

Carlton Davis will miss a minimum of three games but could be out longer after he was placed on injured reserve on Thursday. Davis sustained a quad injury in the Buccaneers’ win at New England on Sunday night. He joins fellow starting cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow) on injured reserve as the Buccaneers’ adjustments in the secondary continue.

The Buccaneers did not immediately make a corresponding news and thus have an open spot on their 53-man roster.

CLICK HERE for more on Thursday’s roster move.

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Jamel Dean

#35 CB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 206 lbs College: Auburn

The Buccaneers injury report was unchanged on Thursday, though Carlton Davis will be officially off the list after being placed on injured reserve. With Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting both on I.R., the Bucs are hoping that cornerback Jamel Dean will be able to return after missing one game with a knee injury. Dean has participated in both of this week’s practices but only on a limited basis. He was limited in last week’s practices, too, and ultimately didn’t play in New England because he was unable to push off on his injured knee.

Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Patrick O’Connor and Antoine Winfield, Jr. were the four Bucs who did not practice on Thursday.

CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at Thursday’s injury report.

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Carlton Davis III

#24 CB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 206 lbs College: Auburn

Oct 6 Updates

The Buccaneers’ first injury report of Week Five listed four players who did not participate in practice at all, with the two newest additions being cornerback Carlton Davis and defensive lineman Patrick O’Connor. On Wednesday, Head Coach Bruce Arians said he didn’t expect to get Davis or fellow cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting – currently on injured reserve – back in action “anytime soon.” However, Arians was hopeful that Jamel Dean, who missed last week’s game against the Patriots with a knee injury, would be able to return by Sunday’s game. Dean practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay also filled an open spot on its practice squad by signing defensive lineman Willington Previlon on Wednesday.

CLICK HERE for more on the Buccaneers’ cornerback situation and the addition of Previlon. CLICK HERE for a closer look at Wednesday’s injury report.

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Antoine Winfield Jr.

#31 S

Height: 5-9 Weight: 203 lbs College: Minnesota

Oct 4 Updates

The Buccaneers’ secondary took another injury hit on Sunday night when starting safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. left the game against the Patriots with a concussion. Winfield, who had an interception and a forced fumble before he was sidelined on Sunday, has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol and Head Coach Bruce Arians said it would be hard for the second-year safety to exit that protocol before this weekend’s game against Miami.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ shuffles in the secondary.

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Jason Pierre-Paul

#90 OLB

Height: 6-5 Weight: 275 lbs College: South Florida

Oct 2 Updates

Before leaving for the northeast on Saturday, the Buccaneers made three changes to their injury report, none of them positive. Both Jason Pierre-Paul and Rob Gronkowski were ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Patriots and cornerback Carlton Davis was updated to “questionable” status.

The Buccaneers are already without Sean Murphy-Bunting (injured reserve) and Jamel Dean (out for Week Four), so they had to make some adjustments to have enough cornerbacks to take on Mac Jones and the Patriots on Sunday night. One of those adjustments was the signing of Pierre Desir off the practice squad to the active roster.

CLICK HERE for more on Saturday’s roster moves and injury report changes.

Codey McElroy

#86 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 258 lbs College: Southeastern Oklahoma State

The Buccaneers addressed two banged up depth chart positions on Saturday by elevating tight end Codey McElroy and cornerback Rashard Robinson from the practice squad for their Week Four game at New England. Robinson has been elevated two weeks in a row and last Sunday saw action on special teams against the Rams. This is McElroy’s first elevation of the season, and it comes when an ill-timed injury to Rob Gronkowski had left the Bucs with only two active tight ends, Cam Brate and O.J. Howard.

CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs’ Week Four elevations.

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Rob Gronkowski

#87 TE

Height: 6-6 Weight: 265 lbs College: Arizona

Oct 1 Updates

Tight end Rob Gronkowski was unable to practice all week due to the ribs injury he incurred in Los Angeles last Sunday, and now it appears he won’t suit up on Sunday in New England, either. Gronkowski was listed as “doubtful” on Friday’s injury report, which likely means he’ll be on the sideline when he and Tom Brady make their homecoming to Foxborough.

Cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Giovani Bernard, both of whom suffered knee injuries against the Rams, have already been ruled out. Outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul is considered questionable, which in his case is a move in the right direction towards returning to the field.

CLICK HERE for more details on the Buccaneer’s Friday injury report. CLICK HERE for a closer look at the lineup decisions the Bucs will have to make on Sunday night.

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