While the Bucs OTAs over the last month have been voluntary, this week’s three-day mini-camp is a mandatory requirement for all players to attend.

On Tuesday as the team walked onto the practice field, there were only two players not seen. Veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and tight end O.J. Howard, who is recovering from an Achilles injury suffered last season, both weren’t available.

Head coach Bruce Arians addressed the missing players following practice. Howard is close to being able to return to practice. The team is just being cautious with him right now. Suh has a wrist injury that he’s dealing with and that’s why he didn’t participate.

“It’s more of a precautionary [thing],” Suh said after practice. He said he would be ready for the start of training camp.

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady took the field for some reps following his offseason knee surgery. Brady has been working out with the team’s veterans separate from the coaching staff over the last month.

“He looked fine,” Arians said. “I had to pull him out a couple [of times]. In that first period I said, ‘Okay, you can have four [reps], and he kept begging to go back in. The only thing I didn’t want him in was that blitz period. You know some guy could come around too quick.

“The doctors – and him – both said he was good to go. Just still be careful with what we’re doing with him. But trying to stop him from playing is pretty tough.”

While most of the roster was on the field on Tuesday, a handful were held out of practice as they recover from injuries. Wide receivers Antonio Brown and Jaelon Darden were held out on Tuesday along with John Franklin and Jordan Whitehead. Darden tweaked his hamstring and will likely be held out on Wednesday, too. The Bucs are hoping he can return to practice on Thursday.

Rookie first-rounder Joe Tryon was able to practice and Alex Cappa who suffered a broken leg in the playoffs was back on the field as well, lining up at his right guard spot.