Bucs aren’t sweating 11-day break for Brady
TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady was excused from training camp Thursday, the first day of what Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said was a planned, 11-day absence to address “personal things.”
Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback’s break from practice was arranged before camp began, adding that Brady won’t return until after the Bucs’ preseason game Aug. 20 at Tennessee.
“We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys with two weeks of camp, knowing he wasn’t going to play the first two [preseason] games,” Bowles said after the Bucs concluded two days of controlled scrimmages against the Dolphins.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared what he knew of the situation on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“It was planned. No one is worried. He’s fine,” Rapoport said. “To my knowledge, it’s not a medical emergency related to him or, I believe, anyone close to him. I was told that everything is OK. The best description I got about this was that it is important to find a work/life balance.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht said Brady’s absence was “the least of [their] concerns.”
The Bucs open the preseason Saturday against the Dolphins. They also will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for two days of practice ahead of their game against the Titans. Backup quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask and
Ryan Griffin will share snaps during Brady’s absence.
“He didn’t want to take away reps from Blaine, Kyle, as well as Griff, as far as going into these next two games — that’s something he can handle,” Bowles said. “We trust him. We talked about it.”
Brady, who retired in February, only to change his mind six weeks later, also was excused from practice for personal reasons last Friday, two days after getting a scheduled day off for his birthday.
Bowles said his confidence level is “pretty high” that Brady will be in the lineup for the regular-season opener Sept. 11 at Dallas.
“Per our conversation, I’m not worried,” Bowles said.