Arians Not Geeked About Saturday Game
January 4th, 2021
Most teams and players get extra amped to play under the lights. Sometimes even coaches.
But this one time, Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians wasn’t popping champagne bottles when he learned last night that the Bucs would be playing Saturday night to open the playoffs.
This meant not only one less day for Mike Evans to recuperate from his freshly hyperextended knee, but also it’s unlikely that stud linebacker Devin White will be able to play.
White last week tested positive for The Sickness. Everything would have had to go just right for White to clear NFL protocols if the game with the Redskins was held on Sunday.
A Saturday game pretty much means White won’t be available for the Bucs’ first playoff game in 13 years.
“It looks that way right now,” Arians said of White missing his second straight game. “I was not overly excited about [a Saturday draw]. It could potentially cost us a couple of players who could play Sunday.”
Arians said he expects NFL sack king Shaq Barrett to return and that cornerback Carlton Davis “should” be ready to rock on Saturday.
Mike Evans, of course, is day-to-day. Arians said the goal, “hopefully,” for Evans, who ran in a pool today, is a return to practice on Thursday.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:46 pm
Also missing much needed DL Depth Steve McLendon.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:49 pm
AB should start in ME’s spot.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:50 pm
Wake up NFL…. multiple negative tests means that you are not infectious
January 4th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Are folks going to whine all week about this?
It is what it is. Take lemons and make lemonade. Use it all as a reason to win this game Saturday and have all back the following game.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Playing washington makes it all better
January 4th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
I’m geeked! Bucs playoff football!
January 4th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
NFL wants to give WFT a better chance to score points, that simple.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
We should be thankful that we are generally healthy…..especially on the Oline….& offense….missing White is a loss but one we should be able to overcome…..
January 4th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
next man up vs WASH….
LETS GO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 4th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
Yes, NFL is protecting Alex Smith from certain injury with Devin White sacking him 5 times !
BTW, WTF with Patriot schedule, all their games against the more likely challenging opponents are home games for them. What gives there Joe, does home and away really rotate as equally as conference play ?
They get bucs and saints at home and panthers and falcons away.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:07 pm
At least we do have Minter and Cichy.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:14 pm
buxs do you realize that is a home game for Brady & Gronk. White was not discipline like others on the team so he and entire team is paying for his immaturity. If he was a Patriot depending on how he contracted it would possibly sit the entire post season. Evan’s back would be awesome, there is no team when clicking can stop this offense. Too many weapons.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
That’s already positive news knowing Evans is in rehab working in the pool. And not off his feet getting it iced down. Really feeling better about his outlook.
January 4th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
The worst part of all its a night game
January 4th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
On bright side one extra day off for following week opponent
January 4th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Even if ME is cleared to go, I’d give him another week to get the knee fully healed (Godwin, AB, Gronk, Brate and Miller will more than give Washington more than they can handle. Having White out is a bit of a problem on D, but I think the Buc’s offense will leave Washington in the dust and quickly put the game out of reach.
January 4th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
White will play 2negative tests are needed
Wednesday and Friday tests should suffice
January 4th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
White is out due to the 10 day mandatory quarantine. If all goes well, the first day he could return will be Sunday which does us no good.
January 4th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
The test are unreliable. Talk to folks in healthcare, they are very inconsistent so everyone is forced to lean to the side of caution. The NFL and the team are damned if they do…. and damned if they dont.
January 4th, 2021 at 5:29 pm
God damn nfl moved the game and screwed us out of our best pass rusher. Why? What is there reason?? To screw us to help washington? Damn them! You
January 4th, 2021 at 6:42 pm
The Bucs only need to get 3 touchdowns and a FG to win. Even with the up and down defense, Washington is limited in its offensive game plan because Alex Smith is a game manager. Our defense just needs to stop playing the soft zones. I certainly expect the Bucs offense to do what it has been doing over the past month. Do that and there is a second playoff game for the Bucs. Oh yeah, cannot forget to mention the importance of fundamentals, the DB’s cannot miss tackles. Smith throws it in front of them, they cannot miss tackles near the sidelines.
January 4th, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Roy T
“It is what it is.”
Before the season started I believed this year’s SB will have an asterisk.
I still believe that. But I’m not sure any team that survives the Covid absences and wins has accomplished perhaps even more than in “normal” season.
And as one guy mentioned…injuries are always a part of the game and a Covid injury is no different.
I agree with Roy…stop the whining and line up and play. The Washington had their “future QB” violate Covid protocol and taken down a notch. Every team has had to deal with the same virus and so it has been a level playing field.
January 4th, 2021 at 8:02 pm
The NFL interconference games rotate every 4 years butx.
January 4th, 2021 at 8:45 pm
This game will be as horrific as the clubbing of baby seals. GO BUCS !
January 4th, 2021 at 8:50 pm
@Ed Yep – TD’s to AB, Gronk and Godwin will do it. Gonna be cold. Hope Bucs rest Evans for second playoff game.
January 4th, 2021 at 10:20 pm
Should be able to beat them with AB and Godwin- even those two would be the best in the NFL
January 4th, 2021 at 10:24 pm
Godwin is better than AB… and AB is damn good.
January 4th, 2021 at 10:25 pm
PAY Godwin, JL and Bucs!