Latest Donovan Smith Update
August 22nd, 2018
Return window surfaces.
So now more specifics are leaking out of One Buc Palace concerning the injury to Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Smith suffered a sprained knee and is likely out of commission for 2-4 weeks.
Now if Smith is out four weeks, that means he would suit up for his first game on Monday Night Football against the Steelers at home.
Frankly, Joe hopes Smith will return then. Joe’s going to be blunt here, and it is not any sort of shot at anyone at One Buc Palace. But given their recent history of projections for injured players to return, the Bucs have been wildly inaccurate about players’ convalescence.
Right tackle Demar Dotson was supposed to be ready for training camp. Nearly a month later, with training camp ending today, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is still skittish about turning Dotson loose and has him on a fixed schedule of snaps to slowly work him back to 100 percent.
Linebacker Kendell Beckwith was also targeted for a return by training camp after his ankle surgery this spring. Nearly a month later, with training camp ending today, Beckwith is still in shorts.
And of course, the Bucs were hopeful right guard J.R. Sweezy could get some work in at mini-camp in June after a broken leg in December. That didn’t happen and he was released about 10 days later.
So forgive Joe if he is dubious that Smith will return in four weeks much less two weeks. The way the Bucs have grossly undershot on targeting return dates, it wouldn’t shock Joe one iota if Smith was placed on injured reserve next month in order to clear a roster spot and be brought back Week 9 (Nov. 11) at Carolina, when he would first be eligible to play.
August 22nd, 2018 at 12:52 am
If hes not back until week 9 this team is doomed!!! I’m gonna just hope you are wrong on this one Joe. Go Bucs!
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:17 am
First off, what is the severity of his injury? ..bruised knee? ..hyperextended, for 2 to 4 weeks sounds like swollen bruised knee. I bet he’s ready by opening day.
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:35 am
The gm builds this team like a fool
August 22nd, 2018 at 1:40 am
One thing is 100% certain About Donovan Smith and Tampa bay. He is much more likely of reinjuring the knee so in a contract year we have to consider the real possibility of just passing him up or making him play for for a 1 year deal next off-season. His choice but the way I see it is he takes a huge payout and I don’t think that it should be with Tampa bay . Jason Licht should move on from him . He’s not the long term answer at LT. He’s just good enough to get us by .
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:01 am
Mike
You are an idiot. No one can predict injuries and Smith has been an iron man to this point.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:39 am
Joe- No word on the backup plan? How’s the line going to look like without DS?
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:24 am
A minor sprain. He will start opening day.
In the meanwhile, the backup will get first team reps in preseason. It is a good opportunity.
I have a feeling Smith’s knee injury is not as bad as people are assuming.
And sorry, Joe 2, but you really need a lift in spirit. It’s like instead of seeing and enjoying the good, you are always waiting for a shoe to drop. While I can understand feeling that way as a fan after the past ten years, at some point we have to believe good things are coming or what is the point?
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:43 am
I got over my sprained knee in like a week. You just have to be willing to stretch out the knee past the point of pain (swelling) several times daily. I got on my knees and would extend my butt to my heels. It worked for me at least!
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:45 am
Everyone’s hoping for a ‘minor sprain’ and for Donovan to be ready by opening day, BUT … Joe’s point is very valid. None of us knows the severity of Smith’s injury, and thus there’s no possible way to predict how long he’ll be out. What we can be thankful for though is that it’s apparently not a season-ending injury. IF Donovan (and some others like Beckwith) make it back right after our BYE week, I’ll be happy.
Starting the season against the Saints, the Eagles & the Steelers would be hard enough with a team at 100%. Starting the season against those same teams with Jameis on suspension & with several key players missing due to injury is flat-out daunting. The major concern at this point surely must be our OLine … especially our lack of depth. Marpet & Jensen look to be solid to start the season. Beyond that I see a LOT of question marks. (Pamphile wasn’t great, but he was sure a lot more experienced than what we’ve got for OLine depth now). Licht needs to be turning over rocks fast looking for any experienced OLinemen who can help us right now. And in the process he might want to add a veteran CB named Justin Case.
August 22nd, 2018 at 5:53 am
NFL Network saying knee sprain Trench. At least we’ll get him back. Get well soon big man!
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:24 am
Like I said before w week ago, the Buccaneers will go 5-11 for the 2018 NFL Regular Season. Plan and Simple as THAT! David Corcoran needs no long winded pile of Naples Red Tide Dead Fish to tell me so Folks. On my way to Nucs Camp right now from Winter Park. P.S., had a loss last night in MLB withThe White Sox (+104) losing late to the Twins, 5-! Now 1-1 on MLB Picks, Wednesday Best Bet will be out this Afternoon, David Corcoran, Winter Park, Florida.
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:30 am
DS76 can be out till the bye-week and that still would be a relief!!!!! As for those that asking for the backup plan, We will get to see it Friday night!!!!! The good news is that the coaching staff really believe in training players in multiple positions on the O-line!!!!!!!!!!! The bad part was that the Bucs were really getting a good push on the left side from the O-line, and I think we will lose that with DS76 sitting out!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:44 am
Get well, Mr. Smith! Give him the time and space that he needs to get back. It is not necessary to have him out on the practice field standing next to GM Licht and the owners in a floppy hat. #BanFloppyHats
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:04 am
Knee anything for a guy that large isn’t good. What are they going to do now? Shift Marpet to LT? Soon they’ll have that guy try out as kicker
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:17 am
He injured his knee 19 days before game one. They say 2-4 weeks. You say week 9? That would be almost 3 months.
Big fan but sometimes Joe 2 reaches way too far
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:19 am
Time to move Dot back to left tackle till Smith is ready to go. Let Benenoch play RT and plug EDS in at RG for the time being.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:23 am
We have a small window to figure a back up solution out…..Had it been week one, we would be completely screwed.
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:32 am
Man I guess people believed Donovan when he said he was in the top 3 LTs in the league. Im curious to see if theres gona be a dropoff at all. Could be a blessing in disguise. Just win baby
August 22nd, 2018 at 7:42 am
Glad to hear there are no torn ligaments.
Donovan being ready for the Saints game in 18 days sounds like a pipe dream though unless the knee sprain was minor.
I had a pretty bad left knee sprain in 2007. It was very painful initially and I couldn’t walk without crutches for a full 7 weeks. Took about 18-24 months before it felt fully and completely healed – and even now, almost 11 years later I’d say its no more than 90% capable of what it was before the injury.
Smith is younger and has much better medical resources to tap into than I did of course – but I tell that mainly to illustrate that while a “knee sprain” may sound like “good news” compared to a torn ACL or MCL – it doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be seeing Smith on the field anytime soon….
This player gets dumped on quite a bit for not being a Top 10 OT which he definitely is not – yet…. But sometimes we don’t really perceive how much someone or something that is less than perfect means to us until they/it are taken away. This might just be one of those cases…
Get well quickly Donovan. We need you back out there next to Marpet and protecting our Quarterbacks blind sides ASAP!
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:21 am
I’m the optimist so I’ll try to search for any “silver” linings.
As for Donovan’s injury it’s impossible to be truly upbeat. But it could have been a lot worse.
In some ways Vita’s injury has been a bigger setback. Donovan is a seasoned vet now and doesn’t really need much work to get his game in order. Once he’s healthy he’ll be fine although his conditioning might become a big issue if he has to stay off his knee.
Vita on the other hand needs to get into the mix so he can FINALLY begin learning playing in the NFL. He’s raw and unpolished and he and ROJO and the other rookies are the ones who really needed ALL of TC and the Preseason schedule for educational purposes.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:22 am
So I guess when he struggles this year like every other year, the knee will be the excuse.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:42 am
Newsflash: the players have no respect for this coach because is lack of discipline. It’s no different than raising you own damn kids. Players will more often than not suck it up when they have a head coach that they respect. Next step in this process will be the recently signed vets to start having ligament ailments: JPP, DJax, and the new center…as they are just here to pick up a check. It is what it is: too 5 pick is a coming next year.
August 22nd, 2018 at 8:58 am
GoDeep
Everybody is entitled to their opinion but I’m curious what you base this lack of respect for Koetter by the players.
We all see different things I guess. IMHO the very reason DK is still here is because the players did NOT quit on him.
That last game of the season really showed me a lot…so many positives…JW…Chris…the entire team balled out with many backups in an injury riddled lineup in what was truly a MEANINGLESS game….meaningless unless you have enormous pride and want to back your coach.
I read a ton of criticism here on JBF. Much of it is simply not supported by facts or a coach or players history. DK has been around a long time and enjoyed success at multiple stops. I do not worship him but I do respect him.
I get people who are upset with his conservative style….he’s an NFL coach!!!
The majority of football coaches at all levels are simply very very conservative dudes. It is what it is…doesn’t please me but it’s been that way my entire life.
What did bother me most about DK’s past few years…Dougie…like Joe I NEVER understood the Martin love…especially when Barber was clearly more effective.
Oh but there’s that conservative thing…Barber fumbled zero times in his rookie years with 55 attempts. Last year however he fumbled twice in 108 carries…overall in two years he’s fumbled just over 1% of the time.
I hesitate to even post these stats because the sample is just too small…but DK obviously remembered those two drops and perhaps was concerned over pass blocking and catching.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:21 am
Meet your new LT, O.J. Howard. Be prepared for Howard to line up on the left side to help the LT and for RB’s to chip the DE before going out into passing routes. Shorter routes for receivers. This may actually be a blessing so Koetter isn’t constantly taking shots down the field. Run blocking is going to be interesting. Hopefully JL is working the phone lines today.
#Get After It!
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:36 am
I agree joe….
it not really the injury, its the recovery time….bucs medical staff has been off on recovery time for a while…..they were off on Winston, off on kwon, off on LVD, the list goes on…..
im not too optimistic about this situation due to the medical staff being dead wrong…..I think he’ll be out 6weeks…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:04 am
Called it last night. He’ll be returning for week 3.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:33 am
Start Dotson at LT. Don’t ever put Benenoch at RT again. Better let Cappa get reps there. He can pass block. EDS is very good filling in at RG. If Dotson does better than D. Smith (D. Smith 42 pressures last year and Dotson 13 pressures) than when D. Smith returns play him at LG and move Marpet back to RG and keep Cappa at RT. Next year first round take a LT to train behind Dotson.
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:47 am
I think he’ll be ready by opening day even if they have to pump it full of cortisone.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Iron Man will be ready for Week 1. Get well Donovan!
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:26 pm
Off-season and regular season are two different things. No reason to rush these guys during the offseason, but when the games count, you want your starting LT on the field, so the impetus to make the projected timeline is clearly defined.