The Bucs have their second scheduled day off on Monday, August 5, and that’s probably a good thing considering that Tropical Storm Debby is still drenching the Tampa Bay area with heavy rain. The team is set to return to practice on August 6 – likely in the indoor facility on Tuesday if the rain continues.
Are any of the injured Bucs slated to return to practice?
Pewter Report has an update on all of the injured Bucs from various team sources. Tampa Bay has already lost one potential starter for the year as guard Sua Opeta tore his ACL in the night practice on July 30. Sua was placed on injured reserve last week.
Bucs Injury Update – Out Of Action For Awhile
OLB Yaya Diaby
The Bucs received a scare on Thursday when Diaby, the team’s leading sacker from a year ago, went down with an ankle injury. The team held its collective breaths as Diaby didn’t get up for several minutes and had to be carted off the field. It was later determined that Diaby has a high ankle sprain, which will keep him out of action for four-to-six weeks. Diaby has been ruled out for the preseason and the team is focused on getting him back in time for the season opener on September 8 against Washington.
SS Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead suffered a thigh bruise during the team’s night practice on July 30 and he has missed practice ever since. He’s considered week-to-week. The team is taking precautions with Whitehead given his status as a starter and will hold him out for at least the first preseason game, and possibly the second one. Whitehead spent his first four years in the league in Tampa Bay and three of those years were in Todd Bowles defense, so he knows the scheme quite well.
OT Silas Dzansi
Dzansi is a reserve offensive tackle that has been spending time at both left and right tackle, sometimes working with the second team after spending his rookie season last year on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. He’s performed well at the start of training camp, but injured his knee in practice on Saturday, August 2. He’s considered week-to-week and will miss at least the first preseason game.
QB Zack Annexstad
Annexstad suffered a shoulder injury during his senior at Illinois State and the team is hoping that he recovers in time to take a look at him in training camp. The Bucs signed Annexstad as an undrafted free agent in May and he has missed the entire offseason and training camp rehabbing his injury. Annexstad is currently on the non-football injury list.
TE Tanner Taula
Taula suffered a leg injury away from the team during summer break. He has missed all of training camp thus far and is on the non-football injury list. He’s considered week-to-week and the Bucs hope he returns in time to play in the preseason at some point, but he is ruled out for the first preseason game for sure.
Bucs Injury Update – Could Return To Action Soon
DB Tykee Smith
Smith suffered a mild ankle injury during Saturday’s injury and was unable to finish practice. The rookie is considered to be day-to-day and the team might hold him out of the first preseason game on Saturday in Cincinnati as a precaution even if he returns to practice later this week.
RB Chase Edmonds
Edmonds has missed the last eight practices with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day. He has only participated in the first training camp practice so far. His status for the first preseason game is uncertain at this time.
WR Kameron Johnson
Johnson has missed the last couple of practices with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day. His status for the first preseason game is uncertain at this time.
OLB Shaun Peterson Jr.
Peterson has missed the last couple of practices with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day. His status for the first preseason game is uncertain at this time.