The Bucs play the Saints on Sunday night, in a game that will determine the playoff structure of the NFC. With a victory, Tampa Bay improves to 11-3 and captures the division title. They could also move to the No. 1 seed if Green Bay loses earlier in the day to Baltimore. However, a loss would be a death knell in the Saints’ playoff hopes, dropping New Orleans to 6-8.

But, win or lose, a big decision awaits the Bucs on Monday. Will wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards return to the team following suspension? Both players are in the final stage of a 3-game suspension after misrepresenting their vaccination status to the NFL. Brown and Edwards used fake vaccine cards to operate under vaccinated protocols. It should be noted that Brown and Edwards are currently vaccinated.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians has been non-committal on if both players, particularly Brown, will return to the team. On Friday, Arians clarified the team isn’t interested in exacting further short-term consequences.

Bucs HC Bruce Arians – Photo by: USA Today

“No,” Arians said when asked if either player would face further suspension or fines from the team.

Arians has said his decision “could go either way”, but hasn’t made it clear what further information he is basing his decision off of. Unfortunately, Friday’s comments offered little clarity. When asked if Brown or Edwards had to meet some sort of standard before Arians made a decision, the head coach dismissed that idea.

“Not really,” Arians said. “It’s just a matter of making a statement. Whether I do it before this game or after, we’ll wait and see. I don’t want anything to be distracting from this game.”

Both Brown and Edwards have recently posted on social media from inside the Bucs training facilities. This has led to speculation both players will not be cut. However, Arians made it clear from the outset of their suspensions that both players would be working out and recovering from injuries while not allowed to play. I think it’s unlikely the team releases Brown and especially Edwards, but the posts aren’t necessarily proof of anything.