Dinged Up Bucs
December 5th, 2016
Injuries piling up.
Every team beat up this time of the year. But now the Bucs seem to be pressing the boundaries.
Doug Martin was gone for a good chunk of the season and he has yet to return to his previous form much less his 2015 self. But still, the dude can freaking block. That is key. Martin, though, limped off the field in the fourth quarter, as seen clearly on the TV broadcast.
Vincent Jackson, gone. Antone Smith, gone. It’s been crazy.
Now, the Bucs may be down two more receivers for the immediate future.
The injuries started right away when good guy Luke Stocker was hurt. Again. Joe feels bad for the guy. He is such a good blocker and a key to the running game, but he is always hurt.
Rudy Humphries, on a play Joe initially thought was a hit to the head and deserved a flag, got knocked out of the game with a concussion. As soon as he hit the ground he held his helmet/head in his hands and then wobbled to the sidelines.
And, of course, there was Cecil Shorts getting his knee blown out. Joe knew it was bad when he saw trainers take out an air pump for an inflated cast. That is never good. Then, when players from both teams surrounded the cart Shorts was placed in, it demonstrated the seriousness of the injury — even opposing players honoring a fallen warrior.
What was not discussed much yesterday was a foot or leg injury of some sort to Will Gholston. After the game in the locker room, Gholston had to be helped by a Bucs staffer to his locker from the shower he was limping so heavily.
Now Joe did not see Gholston wearing the dreaded boot, but Jenna Laine of ESPN did. This didn’t surprise Joe considering how heavily Gholston was limping.
So the Bucs may be down four key players when the Saints come to town. Gholston has grown into an underrated defensive linemen who, in a pinch, can play any position on the line. There was a play yesterday when Gholston looked to be locked up on a block and Melvin Gordon came near him and somehow Gholston threw off his block and swallowed up Gordon.
Joe honestly doesn’t know at this point who will be backing up Freddie Martino and his Band of Renown fresh from the velvet-lined lounge of the trendy Vero Beach Ramada Inn, but if you know of anyone who played wide receiver in college, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may appreciate an e-mailed resumé.
December 5th, 2016 at 6:55 am
What boot?
Joes busy watching my Jenna Laine!
December 5th, 2016 at 7:04 am
Joe.. you really need to learn the rules of the new NFL. Humphries was a runner at the time he got hit. There is no Helmet to Helmet rule. He was not a defenseless receiver. These rules are no rocket science…
December 5th, 2016 at 7:05 am
Kobe Faker=Oath Breaker
December 5th, 2016 at 7:06 am
In comes Dontaye Dye and Kenny Bell to save the day
December 5th, 2016 at 7:24 am
Ego-in-chief Licht enjoys listening to AC/DC? Golly gee that’s a fun fact that deserves incessant repeating!
December 5th, 2016 at 7:31 am
At this point Kenny Bell would be a welcome return addition considering how thin we are right now
December 5th, 2016 at 8:00 am
We will bring up Huff or Dye from the PS…..that’s why they are there.
I think Sims coming back will help in the passing game.
December 5th, 2016 at 9:10 am
It’s go time for Huff.
December 5th, 2016 at 9:39 am
He needs people around him to win ….
All things are possible through Jameis Winston. #Rejoice
December 5th, 2016 at 10:40 am
Any news on VJaxs? Heard him the other day on a local radio show…..Sounds like he is running around and just needs medical clearance?? Any news?
December 5th, 2016 at 10:41 am
Kobe has at least been less belligerent in his return to commenting so I will give him that, probably still has the taste of crow in his mouth.
I am very happy though that Bucnut and BigHog have been ghosts lately
December 5th, 2016 at 10:42 am
I have faith that the back ups will step up…it seems like everyone knows their role….no one wants to let jameis down…..except for Roberto…he trying to do his best to lose a damn game….GO BUCS!!!
December 5th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Lol screw V Jackson. He’s so done
December 5th, 2016 at 11:29 am
Jolly-
It’s only Monday. He will back to his mindless, pointless, unintelligent ranting by Wednesday, calling our players and coaches fat, invisible, clowns, etc.
December 5th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Sims is\was our designated IR return player. Vincent Jackson can no longer play for the bucs.
I like stocker but with how much Dirk wants to use his TEs to support the run game and pass protection, we need at least one more guy like him on this roster.
i know humphries got hurt on a WR play, but the hole his potential absence would creates says a lot about how risky it is to use him as the return specialist. he and guys like hargreaves should not be returning kicks. let’s get huff or dye up here to keep our starters out of the shooting gallery that is returning kicks & punts
December 5th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
We still have Shep and now Martino has finished developing from Atlanta fame. With the return of Sims the loss of shorts should not affect us plus we still Josh Huff and Hump may miss one game. The Martin and Gholston injuries are ones i need updates on. We cant afford to not have Gholston for the Dallas game so i really hope his injury is not serious. Ryan Russell has started growing as a pro finally though so this is a good opportunity for him and a few more snaps for Noah Spence. We need to protect our bodies in these late season games because they are very physical and player usage is at a high rate as well moving forward remember we are secretly fighting for a title
December 5th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
For sure need possibly the best run stopping DE in the league before Dallas.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Gholston and McCoy are doing the Belichick fake injury scheme.
December 5th, 2016 at 5:15 pm
They say shorts dislocates his knee cap, torn MCL, PCL, LCL, and every other CL in his knee. Gruesome.