By Tom Krasniqi

The 4-4 Bucs made their final preparations on Friday as they get ready for Sunday’s home game against the 4-4 Chargers at Raymond James Stadium.  On the injury report for the Bucs, WR Arrelious Benn (shoulder) and FS Cody Grimm (hamstring) did not practice again on Friday and haven’t practiced all week.  Benn and Grimm are listed as questionable and are game-time decisions.  TE Luke Stocker (shoulder), DE Michael Bennett (shoulder) and CB Eric Wright (Achilles) all practiced fully on Friday and all three are listed as probable. 

Notable injuries for the Chargers, LB Antwan Barnes (hamstring) is doubtful and hasn’t practiced all week.  LT Jared Gaither (groin), DE Cory Liuget (hamstring) and LB Demorrio Williams (abdomen) are questionable.  Liuget and Gaither did not practice on Thursday and Friday so that doesn’t bode well for their chances of playing Sunday.   LB Shaun Phillips (finger) along with wideouts Robert Meachum (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (hamstring) are probable. 

News & Notes:

• The big storyline this week is that Bucs WR Vincent Jackson will face his former team for the first time since leaving San Diego as a free agent.  Jackson says he doesn’t have added motivation this week and that it’s business as usual.  He did provide some inside info on the Chargers’ schemes and tendencies but adds that teams are constantly changing their terms and codes for situations like this week.
• With Arrelious Benn being a game-time decision on Sunday, the Bucs need to think about who the kick returner will be.  Head coach Greg Schiano says he’s considering a few guys for that spot.  Roscoe Parrish, Tiquan Underwood and even Michael Smith are in the running although Smith seems like a long shot because he’s caught in a numbers game.  The team already dresses four running backs on Sundays.
• There is an ongoing quest to find a new nickname for Doug Martin.  When asked for one on Friday, Schiano simply said “Doug”. 
• Phillip Rivers and the Chargers are more balanced these days and they like to get their running backs involved in the passing game.  Ryan Mathews is explosive as a runner and receiver.  Ronnie Brown is second on the team in receiving behind Malcom Floyd.  You have to figure that the Chargers will test the Bucs’ 32^nd ranked pass defense with Floyd and tight end Antonio Gates. 
• Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher stopped by One Buc Place on Friday.  He’s doing a story on Doug Martin for the NFL on CBS pre-game show that will air on Sunday.  He says Martin is a “special talent” and compares him favorably to Ray Rice and Emmitt Smith.
• Sunday’s game is blacked out so the only place to catch live play-by-play coverage of the Bucs-Chargers game this Sunday is on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 9am.