During his Friday press conference, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles ruled four players out of Sunday’s game in Charlotte against the struggling Panthers.

“Obviously, [Akiem] Hicks will be out, Cam [Brate] will be out, [Sean Murphy-]Bunting will be out right now,” Bowles said. “Julio [Jones] will be out as well.”

There were no real surprises here. Hicks has been out since injuring his foot in the Bucs’ Week 2 win over the Saints. It was initially reported that he could miss a month with his torn plantar fascia. One month on from that injury, he has yet to return to practice.

Brate, who suffered a neck sprain in a scary moment in Week 6, was never going to turn around and play this weekend. The timetable for his return is currently unknown, and it’s something the Bucs should — and will — be careful with.

As for Murphy-Bunting, he is still dealing with the quad injury he picked up during the Bucs’ Week 5 win over the Falcons. He said at the time that he felt something pop and hasn’t practiced since.

Finally, there’s Jones. The future Hall of Fame wide receiver still isn’t ready to return as he nurses a PCL injury. He left Tampa Bay’s Week 1 win over Dallas and returned briefly during the team’s Week 4 loss to Kansas City, but he hasn’t been back since. Jones practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday, but he didn’t practice Friday and will miss his third straight game and fifth overall game this season.

Bowles and the Bucs have maintained throughout the year that the key is to make sure Jones is healthy for the back end of the season and a potential playoff run.

Bucs’ Bowles Offers Updates On Injured Players

Bucs DT Akiem Hicks – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles was asked whether Hicks has been with the team during his injury absence, and he confirmed that yes, he’s been around. On Monday, he didn’t have a lot to say on the veteran defensive tackle’s progress.

“He’s getting better. We’ve just got to see where he is, Bowles said. “Until I see him run on the field, I don’t have that answer for you.”

The head coach was also asked about Brate on Friday. The veteran tight end avoided a significant injury in last week’s game against the Steelers, but any type of neck injury is obviously something to be careful with.

“The fact that he’s walking around and feeling better is fine,” Bowles said. “I don’t know how much closer he is to playing right now, but the fact that he’s walking around and functioning well is a good thing.”

There was some good news on the injury front, despite four players being ruled out. Bowles said  safety Mike Edwards, who missed Week 6 with an elbow injury, has progressed well and will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Panthers.

“He had a good week of practice, so he’s on track to play,” Bowles said before joking about Edwards wearing braces on both of his arms. “He kind of looked like the Bionic Man. It’s a little past his time with Steve Austin. I had to explain that to him.”