On Friday, Bruce Arians confirmed 2 Bucs are out for Week 4, but it might not be the two you expected. CB Jamel Dean and RB Giovani Bernard will miss the Bucs road game against the Patriots on Sunday. Bernard has been out of practice all week with an MCL sprain. Dean is dealing with a knee injury, but was limited in practice all week. Yesterday, defensive coordinator seemed to indicate Dean’s playing status would depend on his pain management.

“He’s still got a couple of days to get ready,” Bowles said. “You play at 100 percent your first year. After that, it’s all pain tolerance. We’ll see how he looks in a couple of days.”

Well, that was Thursday, and by Friday Dean was ruled out completely for Week 4.

“He just couldn’t go,” Arians said. “He just can’t push off yet.”

Bucs RB Giovani Bernard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bernard’s absence has been somewhat expected, but the loss of Dean will push new players into the lineup. The inexperienced Dee Delaney could get the start in nickel, along with Ross Cockrell and Carlton Davis. Veteran All-Pro Richard Sherman, signed on Wednesday, will dress but may not play. He’ll be an emergency option if the Bucs need him.

“We’ll have him up,” Arians said of Sherman. “Just in case.”

When asked if he would start Delaney in nickel, Arians was non-committal.

“We’ll see,” Arians said. “We’ll see.”

At running back, Bernard’s absence will open the door for Ke’Shawn Vaughn to make his first offensive contributions of the season. Vaughn has been active for just one game, a Week 3 loss to the Rams. The second-year back struggled mightily as a rookie, and did not have much success in preseason action either.

The Bucs travel to New England to battle the Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 4.