After a ghoulish loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs head into the bye week trying to get healthy. On Tuesday, the team announced they have started the 21-day window for cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and wide receiver Scotty Miller to return from injured reserve.
WR Scotty Miller and CB Sean Murphy-Bunting have begun a 21-day window in which they can practice and at some point potentially be activated to the 53-man roster.#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 2, 2021
Head coach Bruce Arians said in Monday’s press conference he expected to know more once players return from the bye. It appears he received positive news even sooner.
“I think we’ll know more when we are back,” Arians said. “But Sean [Murphy-Bunting] and Carlton [Davis III] look like they are making really good progress. Scotty Miller is also.”
While the team awaits news on Davis, getting Miller and Murphy-Bunting back soon is great news. The Bucs have yet to play a game with their full starting secondary this season. And Antonio Brown’s sprained ankle has left the team thin at wide receiver.
The 21-day window for both players begins now. The Bucs will have three weeks to activate both players to the active roster. If they are not activated in 21 days, the duo will revert to injured reserve. That would prohibit them from returning this season.
Murphy-Bunting hasn’t played in a game since dislocating his elbow Week 1 versus the Cowboys. Miller has been out with severe turf toe since Week 3. The Bucs are also hopeful they’ll get Richard Sherman back from an injured hamstring in 12 days against Washington.
Antonio Brown’s status remains a mystery. The wide receiver posted an Instagram story of him biking outside on Tuesday, but he was still wearing a sizable boot. As for Rob Gronkowski, the tight end’s status is up in the air after he left the game against the Saints with back spasms.
Good news? Bucs receiver Antonio Brown is healthy enough to be riding a bike. Bad news? He’s doing it while wearing a boot on his injured ankle/heel … pic.twitter.com/983mWcfeMQ
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) November 2, 2021
The boot is there for stability and protection so it won’t be reinjured.
BA said Richard Sherman should be back in twelve days before next game. Wasn’t Sherman in uniform for the Saints game???
I just hope the Doctors and Coach doesn’t listen to the playe,r because a player will say he is ready to go, and his mind says yes, but the body says not so sure. I am basing it on my own experiences and I ended up having a shoulder issues for 33 years until I could put the shoulder socket back in by myself and forced to have major shoulder surgery; now all held together with pins and screws and limited use. I was stupid to go back and play basketball to soon while in high school. I know this… Read more »
Until I couldn’t put the shoulder socket back in
Put your own shoulder back in place? Very impressive display of toughness Horse. Stuff of legends at CHS. I’m sure your classmates recall that story at each reunion. I’d be much prouder of that than my fellow alumnus bringing up the time I got pushed into the girls locker room and exited into the waiting arms of the Principal. Saying I “identified as a girl” wasn’t going to work in those days. He didn’t buy the “I was pushed” excuse either.
Wouldn’t have worked at HHS either. More like, does it hurt son? Coach would pop it back into place and say now get back into the huddle! Hell, they’d withhold the community water hooka hose just to make a point. Different times indeed.
I’ve seen guys come back sooner than SMB with broken bones in like 8 weeks. I didn’t know a dislocated elbow required 10 weeks. I’m more worried about Davis as I’m not entirely sure SMB is better than Cockrell or anyone else playing now. SMB had good half a season so far last year will see on him and Dean.