TallySaint

Bucs may officially end Simms season

Nov 2-3, SI.com




TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- With injured Tampa Bay quarterback Luke McCown practicing again, Chris Simms' season could be over.

Simms, who started the first three games after helping the Buccaneers win the NFC South a year ago, has been sidelined since having his spleen removed following a loss to Carolina on Sept. 24.


The Bucs have not ruled out his playing again this season. However, that prospect dimmed when doctors told the fourth-year pro the earliest he likely could return is late December with one or two games remaining.

"I don't have a crystal ball, but obviously he's had a very serious injury," coach Jon Gruden said Thursday.

"There's a good chance that his season isn't going to continue, but then again I can only go by what I hear from the medical people. They update us each night, and right now his status hasn't really changed other than he is making a recovery and it's going to take some time."

A decision is expected by next Tuesday, when the Bucs face a deadline to determine whether to activate McCown from the physically-unable-to-perform list. He has been testing his surgically repaired right knee in practice for two weeks.

"I don't know if he's ready to take snaps in a game," Gruden said of McCown, who was injured during an offseason workout. "Obviously, his rapport with the offense has been out of touch for some time, but physically he looks like he's closing in on being ready to get back out here and compete."

Simms said this week that his initial expectations of returning sooner rather than later "was probably a really optimistic view of things."

"I knew at least somewhere in my mind that it was possible I could miss the season. It's not the most surprising thing in the world," Simms said, adding he's feeling better and hopes to start lifting weights soon.

He said he still has some discomfort in the torso area.

"I go over a bump in my car and it feels like my insides are moving around still. But I can definitely tell improvement week by week," Simms said. "That's the most important thing. ... Before I know it, I'm sure I'll be back at it again, running around."

With Simms sidelined, rookie Bruce Gradkowski has taken over as the starter. Tim Rattay is the backup.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

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