The Bucs have a bye for Week 11, which comes at a good time more than half way through the season. The main purpose of the bye is to allow players to rest up and heal from injuries that occur over the course of a season. While Tampa Bay had gotten multiple players back recently, they still have a couple of players on the mend, including key safety Logan Ryan.

Bucs S Logan Ryan and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ryan hasn’t played since Week 4  because of a foot injury. He was put on injured reserve in Week 7 after missing the two prior games while still on the roster. When he was available, Ryan has made a great impact on the Bucs’ defense with splash plays, including a key forced fumble against the Saints in Week 2 along with a fumble recovery and interception against the Packers in Week 3.

The veteran safety is eligible to come off of the IR when deemed healthy, as he will surpass the four-week minimum stint before the Bucs next game in Week 12. Ryan tweeted on Sunday afternoon celebrating the Bucs’ win over the Seahawks in Germany and also expressed that he could be back to playing soon.

Does this necessarily mean that Ryan will be in uniform when the Bucs play against the Browns? Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t sound overly optimistic about the possibility.

“It’s possible, but I doubt it right now – I haven’t seen him running yet, so it’s way too early to say he’ll be back right now,” Bowles said. “We’ll just wait and see as it goes.”

Bucs DB Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Importance Of Ryan For The Bucs Defense

Not only has Ryan been important for what he can do as a player, but it also helps fill out exactly what Tampa Bay wants to do on defense with other personnel. With him healthy, the Bucs have implemented Antoine Winfield Jr, who is arguably their best defensive player, at nickel corner. This allows Bowles to use all of the versatility of Winfield on both the back end and up at the line of scrimmage.

Winfield just returned from a concussion injury for last Sunday’s game and hopefully Ryan will be next. An entirely healthy defense may just catapult the 5-5 Bucs to go on a run down the stretch to help them win the NFC South division and play their best football at the end of the year going into the postseason.

Ryan had nine tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the first three games of the season for the Bucs before suffering his foot injury against Kansas City in Week 4.