No call yet on whether Brown, Edwards will return
TAMPA — Receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards are eligible to return from their three-game suspension for using fake COVID-19 vaccination cards following Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. But will they?
Coach Bruce Arians said he likely will delay any announcement until either right before or after the game. If the Tampa Bay Bucs win, they clinch the NFC South.
“I don’t want anything to be distracting from [Sunday’s] game,” he said Friday.
Arians added that there are no additional hurdles Brown or Edwards must clear. Brown did post a quick video to his Instagram stories from the Bucs’ indoor practice facility Friday.
Earlier this week, Arians told The Dan Patrick Show that the decision “could go either way” on Brown and Edwards. He told the Tampa Bay Times whether they come back will be based “strictly on what’s best for our team at the time.”
Arians said there will be no additional sanctions imposed on Brown or Edwards.
Jamel Dean out with illness: Cornerback Jamel
Dean (undisclosed illness) is the only Bucs player ruled out of Sunday night’s game. Dean returned from concussion protocol last week to play against the Bills but fell ill during the game. This latest setback it is not related to his head injury, according to Arians.
“We’re still trying to figure out what it is,” he said.
Arians said running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) will play. Others who may be questionable include safety Jordan Whitehead (ankle) and cornerback Richard Sherman (Achilles).
Heightened protocols won’t bother Bucs:
Arians said the Bucs are prepared to embrace the NFL’s heightened COVID19 protocols, prompted by a surge in cases around the league. They include wearing masks regardless of vaccination status, remote or outdoor meetings, and no in-person meals, and outside visitors are prohibited while traveling.
“It’s really no news for us. We’ve been doing a lot of these protocols anyway, on the road especially,” Arians said. “For us, I welcome it. Our team knows how to do it. They conquered it last year and did a hell of a job with it. It’s really just whatever the league wants, we’ll figure it out.”