If Sean Murphy-Bunting Can Play, Don’t Expect A Full-Time Role, Bruce Arians Cautions
November 20th, 2021
What injured players may play?
Very similar to his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show yesterday, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians seemed rather upbeat about injuries in his final remarks today prior to the Monday night game against the Giants.
Arians noted there are a couple of starters who could suit up for the Monday night who have been out with injuries. No firm decision has been made but a couple of those guys are cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and foot-rubbing, car-littering tight end Rob Gronkowski.
If SMB plays, he will first have to be activated. That means someone on the 53-man roster has to get tossed off the pirate ship to make room. As Joe is typing this here story, that hasn’t happened yet.
If SMB is activated, how much he plays is another matter. Arians cautioned that SMB is unlikely to play full-time. Yet.
“Getting him back is one thing but playing 60 plays is another,” Arians said today. “They haven’t played that much football. Sean has been out a long time. So we can’t overload him.
“There are spots where if we can get him back, he can help us for sure and gradually get his role back. The same thing with Carlton [Davis]. Don’t throw them back out there so fast they re-injure themselves.
“Sean has shown me that he is probably ready to go.”
As far as cornerback Dee Delaney, Arians said he must first clear concussion protocol to be on Monday’s gameday roster.
Scotty Miller also is on the cusp of returning, Arians said. But receiver isn’t that acute of a need, he added. So Arians doesn’t believe there is a real urgency to activate Miller from injured reserve.
Gronk seems to be the ever-popular gametime decision.
November 20th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Take it easy on the kid. Hamstrings.
November 20th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Because he already got Richard Sherman & Gronk hurt by playing them too much or too early. I hope an ambalance is sitting by Monday night for SMB. Call an amba-lance 🚑🚑🚑🚨🚨🚨
November 20th, 2021 at 1:25 pm
We should try coaching the players we have available, instead of betting everything on returning players.
November 20th, 2021 at 1:39 pm
…..and Bucco Bruce is playing an ineffective, heavily injured JPP every week too smh #disgusting
November 20th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Jmarkbuc: Did I see you on a podcast the other day? Agreed, but I don’t know that even Belichick himself could coach some of these guys into being solid NFL corners.
November 20th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Pete, you are so clever and funny!………. for a burnout….
November 20th, 2021 at 2:14 pm
All these conferences on injured players & we really haven’t learned anything……just win with the players we have….oh wait!!!
November 20th, 2021 at 2:17 pm
If they are ready have them suit up. But don’t put them on the field unless we’re desperate – like behind in the 4th Qtr and need a stop (SMB) and/or a score (Gronk).
November 20th, 2021 at 2:23 pm
pete is right . BA played Gronk too early once already.. if he does it again –we will likely not see Gronk again this season..sure Gronk wants to play–but AB is the coach who SHOULD be the one who makes that decision..
similarly , our warrior JPP should not play –Given a torn rotator cuff,he’s not as effective as he was,, BA needs to play rookie Joe
November 20th, 2021 at 2:57 pm
So many coaches… so little coaching.
Richard Sherman coached better in one game, than we’ve seen all year.
Look in TB12’s face.. you can see the exasperation. ME is gonna run one more sloppy route or short arm another catch and TB’s head is gonna explode.
November 20th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
If we can get SMB in for some plays, don’t overdo it, but get him in there. Gets him back taking live reps, and MAYBE he could even get an INT. For God sakes, our defense hasn’t been getting many turnovers, let alone defensive TD’S. How many defensive TD’S has our defense even gotten this year?
November 20th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
After the last two losses and a bye week if we don’t decimate NY Giants like we should with the talent we have then we deserve our seed # in playoffs.
We should win our division and a playoff game, another SB only if we are 100% healthy and we haven’t been so all season. So that’s a reach even for defending champs. {Buc’s fan since 83’}
November 20th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
With the way the D has been playing, the Bucs need their offense to score 35+. That should not be so hard! Come on BL more play action on 1st down, come on TB 12 less check downs, more Mike Evans and Chris Godwin!!! LFG!!!!