Gerald McCoy back at practice, Doug Martin still out with injury

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting a little healthier, but only a little. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was back at practice today, but the other long-term injured players are still out. That is running back Doug Martin, defensive end Robert Ayers and defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. All of that according to Roy Cummings and other media at today’s practice.

It seems unlikely that the three starters held out today will be ready for Sunday’s game, but we’ve seen weirder things. The Bucs have made no definitive statements on any of these players’ availability for Sunday.

At least Gerald McCoy’s return should be a boon to the team’s pass rush, which was sorely lacking in his absence. I wouldn’t expect that to be fixed without Robert Ayers’ return, though, as the Bucs still don’t have a quality edge rush without him.

As for Martin, if he can’t go, the Bucs will once again turn to Jacquizz Rodgers as their workhorse back. He had a whopping 30 carries against the Carolina Panthers, though the team wants to get Peyton Barber a little more involved, too.