After meeting with doctors on Sunday, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin said that he did not separate his shoulder when he was injured against the Falcons.
That positive note seemed meaningless in the wake of reports that Martin tore his labrum, an injury that would likely end his season and set the Buccaneers up for even more misery in a season with plenty to go around already. Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano denied that was the case, saying Martin was day-to-day and getting treatment. Martin said exactly the same thing when asked if he was out for the season during an appearance on WDAE.
“No,” Martin said, via the Tampa Tribune. “Right now, I’m doing treatment on it with the trainers and taking it day by day and seeing how it feels.”
Martin’s left arm is in a sling and he didn’t give any idea about when he might be ready to make a return to the field or if surgery is still an option if rest doesn’t make things better. He did say his range of motion has increased since the initial injury, although that’s not going to be enough for him to get back on the field on Thursday against the Panthers.
That doesn’t help Tampa’s chances of getting their first win, but a return for Martin at some point this year does help their chances of getting one at some point.