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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got some good news today: Gerald McCoy’s injury is just a calf strain, and there’s a chance he can play on Monday night. That’s according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Following his MRI, #Bucs DT Gerald McCoy was diagnosed with a calf strain, source said. Wait-and-see mode on his availability for MNF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2016
I wouldn’t expect McCoy to be ready against the Carolina Panthers, but we’ve seen more surprising injury recoveries in the past. Clinton McDonald’s full-body cramps that kept him out of the final seven minutes of the game against the Denver Broncos shouldn’t present a problem for next week’s game, either.
The Bucs still have to deal with some serious injuries to other starters, including running back Doug Martin and defensive end Robert Ayers. They’ve missed the past two games, and it’s not clear how close they are to returning — a post-bye return in week seven seems more likely than one this coming Monday. Defensive end Noah Spence’s shoulder injury also remains a mystery.