The Buccaneers updated their injury report to disclose that quarterback Josh Freeman fully participated in practice on Thursday with a thumb injury. The move didn’t happen because of a mistake or oversight on the original version; per Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, the update came after the Saints complained to the league office.
That’s what coach Raheem Morris said after Freeman showed up on NFL Network with his thumb in a bandage, even though he wasn’t on the Wednesday injury list.
“Ask the Saints, they reported it,” Morris said. “You know, he might not be playing against the Saints, I don’t know. I’ll go Belichick on you guys.”
Morris previously explained that Freeman suffered the injury against the Bears on October 23. “He sprained it in the Chicago game, came in and practiced during the bye week and didn’t miss anything this week,” Morris said. “I can make a big deal out of it if you want me to.”
Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com reports that Freeman was added to Thursday’s report after the Bucs received a call from the league office. Per Yasinskas, the league office also instructed the Bucs to put safety Tanard Jackson on the report, based on a policy that requires the player to be listed if he left the prior game with an injury — even when there is an intervening bye week.
