The Buccaneers don’t know yet if their running back drought is going to end this week, and they might not until 90 minutes before kickoff with the Bears this week.
Via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said that running back Doug Martin was going to be a true game-time decision this week. He’s listed as questionable.
Martin has been out since a Week Two hamstring strain, and set himself back earlier this season when he tried to come back to play at Carolina.
Martin said earlier this week he’s hoping to play, and heavens knows the Bucs need him. In his absence, they’ve run through three other running backs getting hurt (Charles Sims and Antone Smith are on IR, and Jacquizz Rodgers is nursing a foot injury).
So even if Martin’s able to return, the Bucs might want to limit his reps, which would mean more work for Peyton Barber and Mike James.