By Tom Krasniqi

 

The 6-7 Bucs were back at practice Wednesday as they get ready for Sunday’s game in New Orleans against the 5-8 Saints.  It’s the second meeting of the season between the NFC South rivals.  The Saints won at Tampa Bay 35-28 back on October 21.

Here’s the Bucs injury report: DE Da’Quan Bowers (hamstring/non-injury related) and RG Jamon Meredith (ankle) did not practice.  Bowers had a family issue he was dealing with on top of a sore hamstring.  The team is hopeful to have him back on Thursday.  DE Michael Bennett (shoulder), CB Anthony Gaitor (hamstring), CB LeQuan Lewis (knee) and DT Roy Miller (head) were all full participants at practice.

Notable injuries for the Saints: T Charles Brown (knee), FB Jed Collins (toe), RB Chris Ivory (hamstring), FS Malcom Jenkins (knee), RT Zach Strief (ankle) and CB Corey White (knee) all did not practice. 

News & Notes:

  • Bucs head coach Greg Schiano gathered his team around and gave them a pep talk before practice began.  “If you wanna be elite, work elite!” Schiano said emphatically.  Schiano urged his team to use “100% focus” in doing their job.  Schiano was very active and hands-on during the early practice session open to the media. 
  • The Bucs re-signed CB Brandon McDonald on Wednesday and he did practice with the team. 
  • It’s been a terrific season for Bucs DE Michael Bennett.  He leads the team in sacks with 9 and he’s doing it in a contract year.  Bennett says he would like to come back but it’s not etched in stone: “I love the Buccaneers but this is a business.  You have to do what’s best for your family”. 
  • Bucs DT Roy Miller knows the Saints will throw early and often against Tampa Bay’s 32nd ranked pass defense.  “When a team comes in, telling you what they’re going to do…challenging you.  It pisses you off”.
  • Extremely funny moment during Saints interim HC Joe Vitt’s conference call with the Tampa media.  Vitt absolutely loves Doug Martin’s hard-nosed running style: “I haven’t seen a back run over as many people as I’ve seen this back run over.  He’s dropping linebackers and he’s dropping defensive linemen like 3rd period Latin”. 
  • Catch the Bucs-Saints game this Sunday on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 9am.