The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relatively healthy entering their NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Washington Redskins on Saturday. The lone player absent from practice was starting CB Donnie Abraham, who is nursing a right hamstring strain and may sit out the remainder of the week. DT Brad Culpepper (right foot sprain) left practice early but is expected to return to practice tomorrow.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers K Martin Gramatica, who missed yesterday's practice with lower abdominal pain, returned to practice today. The Buccaneers checked Gramatica into St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday, where Bucs' team physician Joseph Diaco administered a battery of tests, all of which came back negative.
QB Trent Dilfer (right clavicle fracture) was downgraded from questionable to out for Saturday's game. Dilfer practiced on Monday, but will not return for the remainder of the week. QB Shaun King, who was recently named NFL Rookie of the Month for December, will start his sixth consecutive game. Against Washington, King will become the first rookie quarterback to start in a playoff game since QB Todd Marinovich started for the Raiders against the Chiefs in 1991. Eric Zeier will back up King, while Scott Milanovich will be the third quarterback.
The Bucs potentially added depth to their receiving corps when WR Reidel Anthony (left quadricep strain) was upgraded from questionable to probable on the club's injury report. He has practiced the last two days and is expected to be available for Saturday's game.
G Frank Middleton (right knee sprain) and G Jorge Diaz (right knee sprain) did practice, but are listed as probable for Saturday's contest.
