Bucs’ O.J. Howard out for year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard will miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon.
The Bucs placed the fourth-year pro on injured reserve Tuesday, the third time in Howard’s career that an injury has ended his season prematurely.
Howard, the 19th overall pick in the 2017 draft, had 11 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns in four games, helping the Bucs to a 3-1 start. He had a 28-yard TD reception before being injured early in the fourth quarter of last week’s 38-31 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Howard will be replaced in the lineup by Cameron Brate. The sixth-year pro has 28 career touchdown receptions but hasn’t played much this season with Howard and Rob Gronkowski handling most of the tight end duties in the Tom Brady-led offense.
“You can’t replace him. You just put the next guy in and put in the game plan what he does best,” coach Bruce Arians said.
“Cam Brate, Tanner Hudson. Those guys can do things, too. But they can’t be O.J. O’J.’s a special guy,” Arians added. “Obviously, we’ll sorely miss him. But one man’s injury is another man’s opportunity.”
Brate has 196 career receptions for 2,159 yards. His lone catch this season, a 3-yarder against the Chargers, was for a touchdown.
Titans nearing return?
Coach Mike Vrabel says the Titans stand by how they’ve followed the NFL’s protocols for the coronavirus pandemic and hope the league will allow the team back inside the building today.
The NFL’s first team to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak has had a couple of what Vrabel called “really good days” with testing, and the coach said they’re hoping for more good news early today.
“And then we’ll kind of see where we’re at with the league and hopeful to return and get back in the building,” Vrabel said.
One positive test could derail that timeline.
If allowed back inside the team’s headquarters today, that would keep the Titans (3-0) on target to host Buffalo (4-0) on Sunday in a matchup of two of the NFL’s six remaining undefeated teams. Vrabel says he’s working through a variety of schedules to be ready for when they can get back.
The NFL and its players union had people in Nashville meeting with the Titans to review how the team handled the outbreak and checking protocols. The Titans, and any other team with an outbreak or exposed to a team with an outbreak, now have new protocols to follow including all meetings held virtually and everyone must wear face coverings and gloves at practice.
Fans at games
There will be 5,500 fans allowed into Heinz Field when the Steelers host the Eagles on Sunday, team president Art Rooney II announced.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced new amendments to guidelines for safe gathering in the state earlier in the day, allowing outdoor gatherings in venues with a capacity of more than 10,000 to 15 percent of maximum capacity, up to 7,500 people.
• The Packers say that any plans to have fans for home games this season are on indefinite hold due to high COVID-19 rates in the area.
Notable
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said safety Damontae Kazee, who played at SDSU, will be placed on injured reserve and miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Kazee was hurt in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 30-16 loss Monday night at Green Bay. It was a noncontact injury as Kazee crumpled to the field while in coverage.
• The 49ers released receiver Mohamed Sanu, who was signed as a free agent on Sept 18. He appeared in each of the team’s last three games and had one catch for 9 yards.
• The Cowboys released defensive back Brandon Carr, cutting ties with the 13-year veteran after bringing him in just before the season for depth.