The Bucs wanted to play Jermaine Phillips at linebacker this year, but they had to move him back to safety when Tanard Jackson was suspended four games to open the season.
Now they won’t have Phillips at all, as the eight-year veteran is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a broken thumbm according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Tampa’s defense has given up a lot of big plays in the first two weeks, and this injury won’t help matters. Also not helping: the lack of a pass rush from the man taken three spots ahead of Adrian Peterson in the 2007 draft: Gaines Adams.
Bucs coach Raheem Morris was highly critical of Adams in comments Monday, and alluded to possible lineup changes if Adams doesn’t improve.
“We have to hold [Adams] accountable, and it is tough right now,” Morris said. “He is not getting it done. There are no excuses. There are no explanations. Gaines is not getting it done right now.”
Morris thought Adams wasn’t giving the same effort as he did to start last year.
“I don’t see that same fire. I don’t see him playing the same speed as how hard he played last year. We got to get that back. We got to get that back from him. If we don’t get that back it is going to be a long season for Gaines, and us.”
A nation of Bucs fans just silently nodded their heads.