2 min read • November 12, 2021
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Buccaneers offensive stars Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski will miss this week's tilt against the Washington Football Team. Brown is still weeks away from returning to the reigning Super Bowl champs. Based on a workout video posted on social media during the Week 9 bye, Brown's left ankle is still swollen and he doesn't have the full range of motion, stability, or coordination needed to return. We believe he is not close yet to being in game shape. A return in week 11 would be a stretch, but week 12 is a better bet for his return. Since his injury in Week 6, Brown has yet to participate in Buccaneers' practice, and head coach Bruce Arians said on Sirius XM radio on Nov. 11 that Brown suffered a bone spur that re-aggravated the injury. The 6-2 Bucs are set to face the Washington Football team, Giants, and Colts over the next three weeks.
Gronkowski will be out once again this weekend and is a few weeks away from being back to normal, according to Arians. The 32-year-old future Hall-of-Famer did not practice this week with a back issue. Gronkowski cracked four ribs and punctured a lung in the Week 3 loss to the Rams. He attempted to return in week 8, but played only six snaps before leaving the game with back spasms that Arians said were connected to the rib injury. O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate will take his place as red-zone targets this Sunday. The two have each caught 13 passes for 125 yards this season, and Howard has scored one touchdown.
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