Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson was suspended for at least a year in September. But the lockout has given him the opportunity to work out with teammates, and he’s making the most of that opportunity.
Although Jackson will be banned from all Bucs activities once the lockout ends, he is currently among those in attendance for the Bucs’ player-organized minicamp.
“I’ve just been trying to stay in shape and doing what I can do,” Jackson told PewterReport.com. “There’s not much I can do during this lockout with me being in the situation I was in. I’m just happy to be out here with some of my teammates and hopefully I can get into the season and be back and be a part of this team.”
Jackson’s suspension under the league’s substance-abuse policy runs until at least September 22. At that point, the NFL will assess whether he’s ready to be reinstated.
Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib, who’s also participating in the Bucs’ player-organized minicamp despite off-field problems that could keep him away when the lockout ends, was working with Jackson and said he’s thrilled to see him again.
“That’s my guy. Yeah, he’s out here,” Talib said. “It’s always good.”
In Jackson and Talib, the Bucs have two very talented young players in the secondary. At least, they do right now. It’s unclear now whether they’ll have one, both or neither during the season.