Josh McCown lost his starting job to an injury in Week Three in a game against the Atlanta Falcons. He'll get that job back in Week 10, just in time to face the Falcons again.
The man who replaced McCown as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback, second-year man Mike Glennon, revealed on the Total Access radio show on WDAE 620 AM Tuesday night that McCown will start on Sunday. Buccaneers Head Coach Lovie Smith is expected to address the issue on Wednesday after practice.
Glennon relieved McCown in the second half of the Bucs' first game against the Falcons after the team's opening-day starter suffered a thumb injury in the Georgia Dome. Glennon then started the next five contests, including the last two in which McCown was over his injury and active on game day. In those five-and-a-half games, Glennon completed 117 of 203 passes (57.6%) for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
"I met with [Quarterbacks Coach] Marcus Arroyo and Lovie this morning and they decided that it would be best for Josh to go ahead this week and get the start," said McCown on Tuesday night's show. "For me, things aren't going to change with the way I prepare. I was in here all day watching film. Nothing's going to change with the way I work and the way I support the team."
The Buccaneers won Glennon's first start, at Pittsburgh in Week Four, on a last-second touchdown catch by Vincent Jackson. Glennon threw for more than 300 yards in that game, and in a lopsided loss to Baltimore in Week Five. His most recent outing was probably his shakiest, as it included a season-high two interceptions and several other errant throws. Still, Smith has said on several occasions that Glennon is the Buccaneers' "quarterback of the future."
McCown was signed to a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in March after his own strong season with the Chicago Bears in 2013. In eight games and five starts in place of the injured Jay Cutler, McCown completed 66.5% of his passes, threw for 13 touchdowns against just one interception and compiled a passer rating of 109.0. His first three starts as a Buccaneer did not produce the same level of results – particularly in regards to a 2/4 TD/INT ratio and a 65.8 passer rating. Still, Smith and the Buccaneers are confident that a healthy McCown can jump-start a Buccaneers offense that includes such talented pass-catchers as Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
