Back with the Bucs for the third time, LB Byron Thweatt (56) will once again have the pleasure of chasing Jameel Cook and other Tampa Bay backs
Let's hope Byron Thweatt didn't leave town.
Just seven days ago, Thweatt was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending a week on the team's practice squad. On Wednesday, Thweatt was back at Buc headquarters and back on the practice squad, ready to workout with the team in the afternoon. He was re-signed on Wednesday after the team released RB Robert Arnaud to make room on that five-man squad.
Thweatt originally joined the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in April, then was released during the team's final cut down to 53 players in early September. When a shoulder injury sidelined linebacker Jeff Gooch two weeks ago, Thweatt was brought back, signed to the practice squad on October 17.
Subsequent injuries to several receivers during the October 21 game against Pittsburgh thinned out that position and prompted the Bucs to swap Thweatt's spot for WR Darryl Daniel. Now additional ailments have hit linebackers Alshermond Singleton (knee) and Nate Webster (shoulder), prompting Thweatt's third go-around with the team.
Though Gooch and Singleton will probably practice on Wednesday, Webster and linebacker Derrick Brooks (foot) will not. Six other Buccaneers – wide receivers Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green and Keyshawn Johnson, defensive linemen Marcus Jones and Anthony McFarland and S Eric Vance – will also sit out the two-hour session.
In addition to shelving those players for the day, the Buccaneers also released their official injury report for Sunday's game on Wednesday morning. It is at least mildly encouraging that a postgame list of 17 injured players has narrowed to 10 for the official report, though that group does include six usual starters plus Anthony, who is starting for the injured Green.
As expected, McFarland has been ruled out for the game; he will probably miss at least two weeks, with the target for his return being the home game against Chicago on November 18. James Cannida will start in his spot.
Four other Bucs are questionable: Green, Jones, Vance and Webster.
Running back Warrick Dunn, who missed last Sunday's game due to a strained hamstring, has been upgraded to probable and, significantly, is expected to practice on Wednesday afternoon. The last three practice weeks have seen Dunn sit out Wednesday and Thursday sessions and concentrate on getting back on Friday. Gooch, who has sat out the last two games, has also improved to probable and will practice on Wednesday.
