The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to get most or even all of their injured starters back this week, but the team’s first practice wasn’t very encouraging. Running back Doug Martin, defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald, defensive end Robert Ayers and even wide receiver Vincent Jackson were held out of today’s practice, per Greg Auman — or at least out of the half hour of practice the media got to see.
Also absent: prize free agent signing J.R. Sweezy, who remains on the physically unable to perform list. Wide receiver Louis Murphy did return to practice, though, as did Cecil Shorts, who’s been held out for the past two games.