By Tom Krasniqi

 

The 6-7 Bucs continued their preparations on Thursday as they get ready for Sunday’s game in New Orleans against Drew Brees and 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) were both back at practice on a full-time basis.  DE Michael Bennett (shoulder), CB Anthony Gaitor (hamstring) and DT Roy Miller (head) were all full participants at practice as well.  CB LeQuan Lewis (knee) was limited in practice Thursday after a full practice on Wednesday. 

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 for the second straight day. 

News & Notes:

  • Bucs DE Da’Quan Bowers was back practicing for the team on Thursday.  He missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the funeral of his grandmother, who passed away last Friday at the age of 85. 
  • The kick returner position has been a revolving door this season.  On Thursday, Bucs head coach Greg Schiano said Tiquan Underwood will continue to return kicks this week.  Last week against the Eagles, Underwood averaged 23.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
  • Bucs RB Doug Martin was amused by the compliment paid to him by Saints coach Joe Vitt, who said Martin was dropping defenders like “3rd period Latin”.  Martin appreciated the compliment but says he never took Latin. 
  • Rookie safety Mark Barron has been struggling of late along with the entire secondary and he knows it.  “It’s been kind of slow for me lately”, says Barron.  He attributes his struggles to the elite caliber of pro quarterbacks he’s seeing as opposed to what he faced in college.
  • I asked Bucs QB Josh Freeman to grade himself after 13 games this season.  “I really don’t know.  The end of the year is when you go back and evaluate everything”.
  • The Bucs re-signed G/T Derek Hardman and they released G Hayworth Hicks.
  • Catch the Bucs-Saints game this Sunday on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 9am.