The Buccaneers have a little time before they have to hand in their inactives for Sunday’s game with the Cardinals and it looks like the decision about wide receiver Vincent Jackson’s status will go right down to the wire.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Jackson is “pushing to play” despite the rib injury that knocked him out of last week’s loss to the Patriots and kept him out of practice all this week. Per the report, Jackson is deciding whether or not to take a painkilling shot to help him get through the game.
Rapoport adds that the Bucs believe it will take five weeks for the rib injury to fully heal, so they could keep him out this week and then use next week’s bye to get Jackson as close to 100 percent as possible before he makes his return to the lineup.
It’s not an ideal plan, especially since you’d like to have your best receiver in the lineup for quarterback Mike Glennon’s first NFL start. It is better than losing him for a larger chunk of the 12 games remaining after Sunday’s date with Arizona, though, so caution may be the order of the day for Tampa.