Bucs assistant head coach/run game coordinator Harold Goodwin has stepped up as interim head coach with Bruce Arians sidelined with COVID. Goodwin has enjoyed the role, but the whole team is hoping they can get their leader back for their Week 17 game against the Jets. During Friday’s media availability, Goodwin laid out the potential for an Arians’ return on Sunday.

“I talked to him last night,” Goodwin said. “I haven’t talked to him today. Usually, I’ll call him after practice, but yesterday he sounded really good, so there’s probably a chance that he makes it back. [We] always want our leader around. He’s the head guy. So if we can get him back, [we’ll] get him back and keep our mojo going.”

With the new CDC guidelines, players and coaches can return after five days of isolation. Of course, this is provided they have not experienced symptoms for 24 hours before the fifth day. That window gives Arians enough time to be back by Sunday. That timeline goes for corners Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean as well. Both Bucs defensive backs tested positive on Monday, but could return on Sunday.

“As far as to my knowledge, if those guys meet that five-day window, they are eligible to come back,” Goodwin said. “The only thing is I don’t think they can fly with us. They would have to fly on their own. I don’t know if the team will do something toward that or if they would have to pay for it themselves. That’s probably out of my realm right now. But if they met that 5-day window, they are eligible to return.”

Bucs wide receiver Jaelon Darden could also return by Sunday. Darden was placed in COVID protocols nine days ago, yet he remains on the list. Wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and punter Bradley Pinion remain in COVID protocols as well.