The Buccaneers announced this morning that they’ll take a look at defensive end Da’Quan Bowers in practice this week, starting the clock on a remarkable recovery from what was thought to be a season-ending injury.
Bowers tore his Achilles tendon on May 10, which cast reasonable doubt on his season. But he now has 21 days to convince coaches he’s well enough to be activated from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster.
The Bucs can move him up at any time, and they could certainly use the help after losing defensive end Adrian Clayborn to the season to a knee injury.
“He’s done an incredible job with his rehab,” Bucs coach Greg Schiano said, via the team’s official website. “It’s kind of four different phases. One is surgical, where it is kind of waiting; then it is the training room; then it is out on the grass where he is working with our trainers and our strength coach, running and pushing things; and now here comes the fourth part and that is literally going out and playing.”
When Bowers is well, he’s clearly able to generate pass rush. But being well has been the problem, as knee problems from his college days at Clemson caused him to fall to the second round of the 2011 Draft.