The Bucs can’t wait to get all of the team’s four injured cornerbacks – Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Richard Sherman and Dee Delaney – healthy and ready to play. Davis and Murphy-Bunting have been on injured reserve, but head coach Bruce Arians is hopeful they can return some time after the bye week. But just because these injured cornerbacks return to the lineup doesn’t mean they’ll be at 100 percent or play well.

Let’s take a look at what each cornerback has dealt with and what may transpire upon their return.

Carlton Davis III

Davis was battling abdominal injuries at the start of the season before his quad gave out at New England in the fourth game. He was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter and could return for the Washington game following the bye week at after missing the last four games.

Davis is in a contract year, so he’ll want to make up for lost time with a sense of urgency. The key will be not re-aggravating the injury when he does make it back to the starting lineup. The Bucs have really missed their top cover cornerback, but thankfully haven’t played any teams with a potent passing attack during his absence.

Sean Murphy-Bunting

Murphy-Bunting was injured during the first half of the season opener against Dallas and has missed the last seven games. On Tuesday, the Bucs opened his 3-week  practice window to return to the active roster. Due to the fact that Tampa Bay did this during the bye week, it’s likely they believe he will be ready for Week 10.

When he returns, which Murphy-Bunting will the Bucs get? In 13 coverage snaps versus the Cowboys, Murphy-Bunting was given a low 26.1 grade by Pro Football Focus. Murphy-Bunting has been rehabilitating a dislocated right elbow.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting- Photo by USA Today

When hampered with injuries last year, Murphy-Bunting had eight games with a PFF coverage grade of 60 or below, including five games with less than a 50 grade. He gave up six touchdowns and recorded just one interception in the regular season. Yet Murphy-Bunting had a much better postseason as he got healthier, averaging a 71.5 PFF coverage grade. He recorded three interceptions and surrendered just one touchdown.

It would be unrealistic to assume that Murphy-Bunting, who hasn’t practiced with the Bucs for two months, could just step in and automatically play better than Richard Sherman or Dee Delaney right out of the gate. He certainly has more talent, but hasn’t always played up to it. But when SMB returns to the lineup there could be a transition process as he acclimates back to playing football after missing two months worth of action. Jamel Dean would likely stay as a starter at cornerback opposite Davis in base defense, with Murphy-Bunting only playing in the slot in nickel defense.

CB Richard Sherman

The Bucs signed Sherman over a month ago. Injuries in the secondary forced him to play right away. In fact, the five-time Pro Bowler started at New England after just three days worth of practices in Tampa Bay. Sherman showed significant rust after not participating in any offseason program or training camp while he was a free agent.

Due to the Bucs’ schedule, which included a Thursday night game at Philadelphia, the 33-year old wound up playing three games in 12 days before his hamstring gave out against the Eagles on the first possession. Sherman has missed the last two games – three if you count the fact he only played a few snaps at Philly.

Because his injury was less severe than that of Davis or Murphy-Bunting, Sherman was not placed on injured reserve. He dressed for the Saints game, but didn’t play. The expectation is that Sherman will be ready to play in Week 10 against Washington. While a healthy Sherman is better than Pierre Desir, is he much better than a healthy Dee Delaney at this stage of his career? It’s hard to tell from such a small sample size.

CB Dee Delaney

Bucs CB Dee Delaney – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When factoring in a healthy Davis, Murphy-Bunting and Dean, Delaney is the fifth cornerback behind fourth-stringer Ross Cockrell and ahead of Desir on the depth chart. Sherman may be more likely to play cornerback in case of an injury, but Delaney should be active over the veteran due to special teams. Delaney is young, healthy and has been playing on a weekly basis for the past month. An ankle injury suffered against the Bears caused him to miss the Saints game last Sunday.

Delaney showed some ballhawk skills in the preseason when he snared a pair of interceptions to help him make the 53-man roster. He also came up with his first career interception against Chicago, when he started opposite Dean. With Sherman being 33 and possibly losing a step, the Buccaneers might be better off starting Delaney ahead of Sherman if it’s an option. It might all be a moot point if Murphy-Bunting is able to play again in 11 days.