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About the Author: Jon Ledyard
Latest Bucs Headlines
It’s the start of a new year, which is bringing good health news for the Bucs. On Saturday, the team announced that head coach Bruce Arians will return from the COVID list for Sunday’s game against the Jets. Joining him will be wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and cornerback Jamel Dean. All four Bucs cleared COVID protocols on Saturday.
HC Bruce Arians and WRs coach Kevin Garver will coach Sunday against the Jets.
We've also activated two players from the reserve/COVID-19 list and elevated four from the practice squad.
— xz – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 1, 2022
According to league protocols, Dean and Murphy-Bunting are not permitted to travel with the team to New York. However, the two defensive backs could travel separately and play on Sunday. They are currently listed as questionable to play.
In addition to those moves, the Bucs also elevated four players from the practice squad. Returner Kenjon Barner, wide receiver Cyril Grayson, punter Sterling Hofrichter and outside linebacker Elijah Ponder have moved up. Barner seems to set to handle return duties for the second straight week, while Jaelon Darden remains in COVID protocols. Grayson will step in if Antonio Brown and Mike Evans can’t play on Sunday. Both receivers are game-time decisions.
As for Ponder, he’ll likely be active in his first NFL game on Sunday. The rookie will step in as the fourth edge rusher with Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul out. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson will start, but Cam Gill and Ponder will likely get a few reps too.
Darden and punter Bradley Pinion are the only Bucs players currently on the COVID list.
