Bucs need him healthy. Mike Evans recalls a moment.
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Tonight, Bucs fans won’t see Brent Grimes.

The veteran cornerback hasn’t practiced since July 28 with an unspecified injury. Dirk Koetter says the injury is minor and Grimes will be ready to rock and roll come September when the regular season kicks off, barring any further dings.

The goal, of course, is to have Grimes ready for opening day, not these glorified dress-up, phony games held in August. And given the Bucs’ cornerback position, Joe would argue Grimes is most important player on the Bucs roster this side of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.

Without Grimes, this team and especially this defense is in a world of hurt.

(Of course, cynics would ask how much worse could it get if the worst defensive in the league was without a star player? Fair point.)

And with Grimes being 35, any way to help save that man’s legs is important. But the way Grimes plays, he is an ageless wonder.

To hear DeSean Jackson speak about Grimes, he is a wonderful combination of athletic ability, experience and intelligence. The three traits combine for a formidable foe.

“He has instincts like a cat,” Jackson said. “You might think you’ve got him and he will break on something. He’s very agile. He has a lot of smartness. He’s seen a lot of routes. He has a lot of good characteristics.”

The cool thing about Grimes is that he is the ultimate professional. Even though he is sidelined, Grimes stays on the practice field during 7-on-7 drills and 11-on-11 matchups. He stands on the field as if he is playing center field in baseball, watching the offense, trying to keep his mind sharp and engaged to see if he can pick up tendencies.

Grimes easily could be on the sidelines or inside One Buc Palace in the air conditioning working out. He chooses not to be.

“He’s a pro,” Mike Evans said.

The Bucs opening preseason against Miami tonight sprung the memory of Evans. As a rookie with the Bucs, Evans had his first professional touchdown robbed by Grimes, then with the Dolphins, who stripped Evans inside the five-yard line.

Evans sort of echoed what Jackson had to say about Grimes.

“It is his instincts, it is about his athletism,” Evans said. “He’s probably the best athlete I have ever been around, pound for pound. He is a freak athlete. He has cat-like quickness. He understands route combinations and offensive concepts. That’s a lot.”

It horrifies Joe to think of what this Bucs defense would be without Grimes. One only has to remember the debacles last year at Minnesota and at Atlanta for a window into this nightmare. Bucs fans briefly lived it.

This season very easily could hinge on Grimes’ ability to answer the bell each week.