After coming into close contact with a family member who has tested positive for COVID-19, Bucs starting left tackle Donovan Smith will miss Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Smith has played in every game this season until now. He released a statement through the team on the situation.
Statement from T Donovan Smith: pic.twitter.com/abdASlTOC6
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 18, 2020
Without Smith, the Bucs will likely turn to Josh Wells, a veteran backup who has played just 19 snaps this season. Wells is in his second season with Tampa Bay, but struggled last season in 203 snaps, allowing 14 pressures and three sacks while committing four penalties. The Bucs would hope to get Smith back for the Lions game on Saturday, December 26, but it remains to be seen how his COVID tests will go over the next few days.
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About the Author: Jon Ledyard
cross training for Wirfs? or not enough time?
Dammit. He was freaking worried about Football exposing him to Covid before the season started and then he goes and gets caught up by a Family member. Christ man, why can’t these guys just stay safe for a few months. You pay someone $14.5 million to play football and they should be willing to sit in their house till the final game.
darn it to heck
Feels like the wheels are falling off this wagon right about now.. I guess we’ve just been lucky up until now..
The wheels are falling off? All 3 specialists came back.
Ironic! That’s the word. Unlike a couple of other NFL teams we had no key players opt out of this season. All of our players and staff have done very well with the protocols so far. That is until this past week. Human psyhology and the need for human contact is necessary for all of us. It has nothing to do with how much you are paid. The pandemic has been tough for everyone. Being a senior and having to spend a good deal of time in self-quarantine isolation this year caused me to have to reach out for extra… Read more »
Totally aggree on this. Changed my job back in March and got “homeofficed” right at the beginning. Looked like the jackpot to me, but after six weeks or so it got verry stressful just to stay at home. And I’m someone who loves to be alone…
He just had a baby. He was complaining about playing before the season started about being exposed yet he can’t stay away from others in his personal life long enough. He’s got people at home. I’ve had zero problem staying away from people or not being able to go anywhere. I’m aware not everyone is mentally tough enough to handle not hanging out but for the season shouldn’t be too much to ask of any of them. His precautions are just like his play, he’s great 90% of the time and then all of a sudden he acts like he… Read more »
Yeah I agree 100%. It REALLY sucks, but if I were to have quarantined like I was supposed to all year I’d have not gotten to see my nieces at all, who I had just shared custody of for a year. I made it about 3wks and I felt like I’d lost some important organs.. Like my heart and my brain/mind! I took all precautions, but the girls are in school and while so far I don’t think I’ve gotten it, I could have and I’ve had to help with all my at risk family grocery shopping etc.. Idk because… Read more »